Five Bold Predictions for the Texas Rangers in 2014

4. Jon Daniels stands pat at the deadline.Jon Daniels has made multiple large trades at each of the past few deadlines.

Jan 31, 2014; Arlington, TX, USA; Texas Rangers president of baseball operations Jon Daniels talks to the media during a press conference announcing the retirement of former Texas Ranger Michael Young (not pictured) at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

In 2013 it was Alex Rios and Matt Garza, the year before it was Ryan Dempster and in 2010 it was Cliff Lee and several smaller trades. Both the Matt Garza and Ryan Dempster trades were near disasters. The Garza trade was particularly bad, with Texas giving up four good young players for a pitcher who was not good down the stretch. The Alex Rios trade was very good for Texas because the White Sox were looking for a salary dump and required little in return. The Rios and Lee deal seem to have been worth it but the rest of the deals were particularly awful.

I predict that Daniels learns from his mistakes and does not make a big trade for a short term rental in 2014. The Alex Rios trade was worthwhile because Rios still had a year and a half left on his deal and Daniels gave up next to nothing to get him. Daniels might acquire a player like David Price who has more than half a season left on his contract, but in the end, Texas will stand pat at the deadline and ride their core group through the end of the season.