Rangers' deadline approach takes potential trade partner off table for Orioles

As we continue our push toward the trade deadline, teams are starting to make final decisions on whether to buy or sell. The Orioles' direction is clear, as is the Yankees'. The AL East got a bit more clarity in general, as the Red Sox made a couple additions and the Rays seem to have given up.

Down in Texas, it appears that the Rangers will look to add pieces between today and tomorrow and try to make a late push in the AL West. On Sunday afternoon, the Rangers dealt for catcher Carson Kelly, sending prospects Liam Hicks and Tyler Owens to Detroit in return.

Kelly will add a bit of length to the Rangers' roster, serving as a backup to 2023 All-Star Jonah Heim. More importantly, it signals to the rest of the league that the Rangers are in buy mode heading into Tuesday's trade deadline.

Orioles have one fewer trade partner on the board after Rangers deal

It had been speculated that the Rangers might be looking to sell as recently as a week ago. Heading into Monday's games, Texas is 4.5 games back in the AL West, trailing both the Astros and the Mariners, and they're 6 games back in the Wild Card race.

Multiple outlets had suggested they'd be looking to offload short-term assets in an attempt to retool for 2025, but it appears that the reigning World Series champs will stay the course and try to catch up down the stretch.

It's unfortunate for the Orioles, who are still in search of another rotation arm, even after adding Zach Eflin from the Rays. Baltimore had been connected to Texas as potential trade partners, with both Nathan Eovaldi and Max Scherzer coming up in rumors. Now, they'll have to look elsewhere.

Scherzer is on an expiring deal, set to enter free agency after this season. Eovaldi has a vesting option for 2025, which kicks in if he throws a combined 300 innings between 2023-2024 - he's currently at 250 and if he stays healthy the rest of the way has a good chance to hit that mark.

With the Rangers adding Kelly, it appears that neither of Scherzer nor Eovaldi will be available over the next two days. Therefore, it's back to the drawing board for Mike Elias and the Orioles.

The O's should remain busy on the trade market through the end of the day Tuesday. We'll see what else they're able to come up with.