Written by Mark Polishuk | on July 5, 2026 2:27pm CDT
I The guards be interested in signing Lane Thomas last season, reports the Dallas Morning News’ Evan Grant. A foreign player instead joined i The Royals The one-year, $5.25MM free agent deal is still “rich in Rangers blood,” as Grant put it, but Thomas could be a possibility in Texas as the trade deadline nears. Less than half of Thomas’ salary remains on the books, and he could be a teammate of the team. Evan Carter in left field (or as a part-time player since then Wyatt Langford currently in IL).
Thomas is at least healthy and more productive than he was during his injury-plagued 2025 campaign with the Rangers, but the outfielder has only an 86 wRC+ to show for a .214 / .319 / .338 slash line across 235 plate appearances in Kansas City. A temporary piece like Thomas could do a lot to help a Rangers team that could use a lot of crippling momentum to stay afloat in the playoff race. Grant floats a few other speculative names that could be on the Rangers’ radar as Texas looks to add a bat and some bullpen help, among other needs.
More from the AL West…
- Left calf type sent Jeremy Pena on the 10-day injured list on June 30, but The Astros the shortstop resumed the defense and the run. Manager Joe Espada told reporters (including Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle) that Pena is in line to start in time for the Astros’ series with the Rangers just before the All-Star break, as long as Pena goes through a scheduled rehab game or two with Triple-A Sugar Land. Bringing Pena back in a pinch would be a nice break for an Astros club that was without a shortstop for about a month earlier this season, when Pena suffered a hamstring injury. Pena has been his usual productive self when healthy, hitting .295/.356/.443 over 202 PA this season.
- The Rangers may face another star returner before they face the Astros, such as Mike Trout told MLB.com’s Rhett Bollinger and other reporters that he hopes to be started in the 10-day IL at the time of the meeting. Angels‘ upcoming series against Texas that starts on Tuesday. Trout hasn’t played since June 17 because of a pulled hamstring, but the three-time champion said he’s back to his usual pregame routine. Baserunning was the only thing missing from Trout’s baseball career, but he said his running exercises amounted to about 85 percent of his normal intensity. Under normal circumstances, the Angels would likely hold Trout until after the All-Star break as a precaution, although Trout has some interest in playing in the All-Star Game in Philadelphia near his hometown of Millville, New Jersey.
- For another Angels news, Yoan MoncadaMoncada’s recovery time was unknown when he underwent knee surgery in early June, but Franchys Romero reports that Moncada was expected to miss 4 to 6 weeks. We’re just entering the first half of that timeline now, though Moncada’s 60-day IL placement means he’s not eligible to return until at least July 20. Between the final stages of the rehabilitation process and a minor league rehab assignment, Moncada projects to return to the Halos in late July or early August.
