▁August ▁ 1 8 , ▁ 2 0 0 9 , ▁the ▁R angers ▁acquired ▁I ván ▁Rodríguez ▁in ▁a ▁trade ▁from ▁the ▁Houston ▁Ast ros ▁to ▁help ▁them ▁down ▁the ▁stretch ▁for ▁the ▁purpose ▁of ▁ach ieving ▁their ▁first ▁play off ▁appearance ▁in ▁ten ▁years . ▁It ▁was ▁Rod rig uez ' s ▁second ▁st int ▁with ▁Texas . ▁The ▁team ▁had ▁a ▁winning ▁season ▁but ▁did ▁not ▁qual ify ▁for ▁the ▁post season . ▁ ▁On ▁September ▁ 1 4 , ▁ 2 0 1 0 , ▁the ▁Ast ros ' ▁Tri ple - A ▁affili ate , ▁the ▁Round ▁Rock ▁Express , ▁announced ▁that ▁they ▁would ▁become ▁the ▁R angers ' ▁new ▁minor ▁league ▁affili ate . ▁This ▁change ▁left ▁the ▁Ast ros ▁without ▁a ▁Tri ple - A ▁team ▁and ▁the ▁ ▁R angers ' ▁old ▁Tri ple - A ▁team , ▁the ▁Oklahoma ▁City ▁Red H aw ks , ▁without ▁a ▁parent ▁club . ▁On ▁September ▁ 2 0 , ▁ 2 0 1 0 , ▁the ▁Ast ros ▁made ▁the ▁Red H aw ks ▁their ▁own ▁affili ate . ▁These ▁changes ▁went ▁into ▁effect ▁for ▁the ▁ 2 0 1 1 ▁season . ▁▁ 2 0 1 3 – present : ▁Ast ros ▁join ▁the ▁American ▁League ▁ ▁Major ▁League ▁Baseball ▁approved ▁the ▁sale ▁of ▁the ▁Ast ros ▁on ▁November ▁ 1 1 , ▁, ▁to ▁Jim ▁C rane ▁on ▁the ▁condition ▁they ▁join ▁the ▁American ▁League ▁West . ▁The ▁R angers , ▁located ▁in ▁the ▁Central