Shin-Soo Choo, Texas Ranger

Sep 4, 2013; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Cincinnati Reds center fielder Shin-Soo Choo hits during a game against the St. Louis Cardinals at Great American Ball Park. Mandatory Credit: David Kohl-USA TODAY Sports

The Rangers today agreed to a seven year, $130 million deal with free agent outfielder Shin-Soo Choo, sources are saying. After weeks of telling us that the Rangers are done on the free agent market, Daniels once again surprises us by getting a deal done with someone that a lot of Rangers fans really wanted. I for one was surprised today but not shocked. Daniels and his team seem to pull stuff like this off all of the time. The move will most likely mean that the Rangers and Nelson Cruz will no longer be a pairing.

Choo will be the Rangers lead off hitter in 2014, and I believe that Leonys Martin will now hit in the nine hole. After sitting silent last off-season, the Rangers are making some moves this off-season. Prince Fielder, Shin-Soo Choo, Michael Choice, J.P. Arencibia, and other minor league guys.

Choo is a great on base guy (career .389 OBP) but had trouble hitting against left handed pitching (.243 career against lefties, .215 last season). Choo will man left field with Leonys Martin taking center and Alex Rios taking right, with Michael Choice being the fourth outfielder. This is a bold move for the Rangers front office, and one that most experts and fans didn’t think would get done, myself included. Choo will fill the lead off void left by the trade of Ian Kinlser.

I have a strong feeling now that the Rangers are done looking for free agents this off-season, and it should be intersting to watch and see if this team has any more moves to make. I personally think they don’t, but then again I personally didn’t think they would sign Choo either. So Rangers fans get ready for a good outfield, a good infield, a good pitching staff and a better line-up than you had last season, because Shin-Soo Choo is not a Texas Ranger.