The Rangers finished the first half on an upswing, winning two out of three from the Astros. Houston’s lead is still way too large for Texas to be thinking about winning the division. But a wild card is not out of the question. Especially if they get a bit of help at the trade deadline.

Hopefully, the way they played the last few weeks has given Chris Young the encouragement to add a few pieces. They really need one more bat and a closer.

Pittsburgh’s David Bednar would be the ideal closer for the Rangers to acquire. He started the season poorly, was demoted to the minor leagues to work out some kinks, and has come back with a vengeance. He’s saved thirteen games for a team going nowhere. The Pirates are one of those teams that glorified minor league feeder teams. Their owner refuses to put any money into salaries, so they keep players for a few years then trade them once they get expensive. The Rangers need to take advantage of the Pirates being the farm system for the rest of baseball.

Bednar’s salary isn’t that high yet (it will be soon, once he hits arbitration, which is why the Pirates would move him), so he shouldn’t put the Rangers over their self-imposed luxury tax threshold.

Arizona’s first baseman Josh Naylor is a free agent at the end of the season, so he might be a perfect rental for the Rangers, and he’s affordable as well. His bat that would fit perfectly in the Rangers lineup. He’s hitting .294, with an OBP of .361, an OPS of .817, and an OPS+ of 127. All of these numbers would put him at the top of the Rangers stat sheet.

Naylor crushes right-handed pitching. And he’s not a strikeout machine. Put him at first or DH and this lineup would have a productive bat they can count on, something Jake Burger and Joc Pederson are not.

Of course, these are just a few thoughts. Chris Young is free to call me to get my take on other trades and ways to improve this team by the deadline. But the good news is, this team isn’t out of it, despite how miserable and frustrating the first half was. And with their pitching and defense, the Rangers have a legit shot to go deep into October.

But they need a closer and a bat.