Are the Rangers done?

This weekend I tried to watch Rangers baseball. But it's very hard to watch bad baseball and the Rangers weekend series in Cleveland was absolutely horrible baseball. The team is only 2-8 since the All Star Break, they've been swept twice, and it isn't looking very good for the rest of the season. But what is exactly going wrong that went right earlier in the season? It's the offense. It's no where to be found. Our pitching staff has pitched great all year long, but when your offense isn't scoring runs, then it doesn't matter how good you pitch.

Manager Ron Washington has been trying all season long to find a good number 2 hitter for his lineup. He has used Elvis Andrus, David Murphy, Mitch Moreland, Leonys Martin, Jurickson Profar, and Engel Beltre in that spot but none of them are producing. Andrus is hitting .249 while David Murphy is hitting a microscopic .226. This current offense can't seem to get into a rhythm at all. So how do we fix it?

It was reported by Ken Rosenthal over the weekend that the Rangers have had internal discussions of trying to trade closer Joe Nathan to bring in a couple bats. I love Joe Nathan. I think he is one of the best closers to ever wear a Ranger uniform. But with that being said if he can bring in a couple bats that would help this offense turn around then I'm all for it. We have a proven closer in Joakim Soria who could do the job. Soria has 160 career saves when he was a member of the Kansas City Royals. On top of that, Neftali Feliz is expected to be back in the bullpen by the end of August completely healthy. So if trading Nathan for a couple offensive guys is what it will take to turn this team around, then I say goodbye Joe.

Who might the Rangers trade for that would help this club the most? I said it back on July 1st and I'll say it again. Trade for Michael Young. I know he isn't hitting extremely good this year, but he is better than a lot of the guys in our lineup. Put him as your everyday number 2 hitter and watch him lift this club up and make them better. He is hitting .277 with 7 home runs and 32 RBI. The Rangers don't seem to have a true clubhouse leader. Michael Young was that leader before and he could be again. General Manager Jon Daniels needs to swallow his pride, apologize to Young, and bring him back to Texas where he belongs.

Without making a trade for either a big bat, a clubhouse leader, or both I fear this downward spiral the Rangers are in will only continue.