The Texas Rangers have been one of baseball’s best teams this season.
Over the winter, they overhauled their starting rotation and turned it into one of the best in the entire league.
The bullpen, however, could still use some work.
But the Rangers may be in luck, as they currently have their eyes on a key reliever.
According to Bob Nightengale of USA Today, Texas is in the mix for St. Louis Cardinals closer Jordan Hicks.
Nightengale notes, however, that since the Cardinals and Hicks have been discussing a potential contract extension, Hicks will only be moved if the two sides cannot reach an agreement by Tuesday.
The Texas #Rangers are aggressively pursuing #STLCards closer Jordan Hicks.
Hicks is a free agent at the end of the season and will be moved only if the Cardinals can’t sign him to a contract extension before Tuesday.— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) July 28, 2023
Hicks has been a revelation this season.
After a poor start, the 26-year-old has found his groove again and rediscovered his old form.
He has lowered his ERA to 3.67 on the season and owns a 2.25 mark over his last 15 appearances.
Hicks also possesses elite swing-and-miss stuff that is so highly coveted from teams.
The hard-throwing right-hander made his Major League debut in 2018 and emerged as a key presence at the back end of the Cardinals bullpen.
Injuries derailed him over the next three years, but the right-hander appears to have found his old form from back in 2019, prior to an elbow injury.
The Rangers own the second-best record in the American League at 60-43 and have a two-game lead over the Houston Astros in the AL West.
Hicks is a native of Texas and could experience a homecoming of sorts if traded to the Rangers.
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