Texas Rangers DL Moves Possible Addition By Subtraction

Texas Rangers had to move 2 players and a lot of money to the DL but maybe that is what was needed to shake up the lineup and get out of the horrible slump the month of July has been.

My previous article suggesting something needed to be done to shake things up was posted just half an hour or so before the news that Prince Fielder and Shin-Soo Choo were being moved to the DL. If you do the math, that is about $44 million of this years payroll not contributing during the worst month the Texas Rangers have had this year.

Texas Rangers manager Jeff Banister has appeared to be stuck between a rock and a hard place with the situation involving Prince Fielder. Fielder is a seasoned vet that the Rangers traded for just before the 2014 season, he only played 42 games for the Texas Rangers that year. He ended up having to have surgery on his neck but he did bounce back in 2015 with 23 home runs but started 2016 very poorly.

Another problem with Fielder has been the decline in his defensive ability and the fact that he is supposed to be a power hitter that can only hit singles, and he doesn’t run the basses very well. His spot in the lineup has not been very profitable recently but with a veteran who is making $24 million dollars through 2020 really all you can do is keep plugging him in an hope he snaps out of it.

Although an injury that could lead to surgery and maybe even have fielder concerned with his future, moving him to the DL did just make Jeff Banister’s decision of what to do with him a lot easier.

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Shin-Soo Choo having trouble with his back is concerning because he has already been on the DL earlier in the year for the same injury, but this stint should be a short 15days hopefully. The placement of Prince Fielder onto the DL does open the DH role up for Choo who has a great ability to get on base and the DH spot would keep him from injuring himself more playing defense.

These actions happening just before the trade deadline is the best case scenario that the Texas Rangers could ask for. Jurickson Profar has started to workout in the outfield and may see some time out there but also should see some time at 1st base as well. Maybe you thought that Joey Gallo would be called up to take Fielder’s spot, that didn’t happen.

Delino DeShields and Hansor Alberto were called up to fill the spots in the roster. Assistant general manager Thad Levine mentioned on local Dallas radio station 105.3 The Fan that they wanted Joey Gallo to be called up with a head of steam behind him and that it may eventually occur in the near future. Another reason is that they don’t want Gallo to come up, have troubles and drive his trade value down.

Hopefully the DL moves will be addition by subtraction and it will allow a more productive Jurickson Profar into the lineup at different spots throughout the rest of the season. The opening of the DH spot allows Jeff Banister to give the everyday players somewhat of a day off by plugging them in.

Next: Texas Rangers: They Need A Shock To The System

These moves and what they will lead to should allow everyday players to get the needed rest and hopefully this is the shock that the Texas Rangers needed. Long shot outcome from this whole situation would be Delino Deshields has the surprising success of what he did for the team that he did last year, only time will tell.