ARLINGTON -- One of the Rangers' best potential trade chips will be shut down for the next few weeks, president of baseball operations Chris Young said on Monday.
Right-handed pitcher Tyler Mahle has a right rotator cuff strain and will continue to be shut down as baseball nears the All-Star break. The Rangers aren’t expecting Mahle -- who is in the final season of a two-year deal with the club -- back until after the Trade Deadline.
Mahle has been on the 15-day IL since June 15 due to right shoulder fatigue. Recent MRIs showed it was worse than originally seen. He had Tommy John surgery in May 2023, when he was with the Twins, and dealt with shoulder soreness after his return to the mound last August with Texas.
“We're going to pump the brakes on him right now,” Young said. “He's going to be in a holding pattern in terms of the recovery time and making sure that we get him 100 percent right. He's going to go a few more weeks without throwing before we begin a throwing program. It's nothing that I think they're concerned about from the long term, but he just needs some time down. I know it's a heartbreak for Tyler, but we gotta make sure we get it right for him.”
Young emphasized that this is more of a short-term issue than long for Mahle and they hope the strain subsides with rest.
Mahle has been one of many reasons that the Rangers’ rotation has been one of the best in MLB this season, entering Monday with a league-best 3.23 ERA. Through the end of May, Mahle had a 1.64 ERA across 12 starts. He allowed eight runs across his last two starts before landing on the IL to raise his season ERA to 2.34 in 77 innings.
“We're pitching great,” Young said. “This is just an opportunity for other guys to step up. Jake Latz has gotten an opportunity because of that, and I'm sure we'll see other guys in the second half get opportunities. We'll have Jon Gray back here sometime soon. But reality is, pitching has not been our issue thus far.”