Texas Rangers: Was Not Trading Shin-Soo Choo Smart?

The 2017 MLB Trade deadline is in the books. The Texas Rangers made a few trades. However, none of those trades include veteran outfielder Shin-Soo Choo. A trade could have perhaps brought some decent talent to Arlington, but Texas made a decision to keep Choo.

Choo, 35, is currently in his fourth year of his seven-year, $140 million contract. His presence since coming to Arlington has not gone the way the Texas Rangers hoped it would. Injuries have been his biggest struggle. He’s owed $20 million each until 2020 where his contract expires.

This season is not a bad one for him. On the contrary, 2017 is shaping up to be Choo’s best so far in a Rangers uniform. First and foremost, Choo has yet to suffer an injury requiring him to be put on the disabled list. Last season, he was on the D.L. four times, appearing in just 48 games. He’s missed a few games just as a precaution, but he’s healthy and has been healthy all season. In any case, he must keep it up.

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Rumors regarding a Choo trade were relatively silent. However, according to WFAA’s Samuel Hale, the Rangers could possibly have sent Choo, Jonathan Lucroy and a few prospects to the Chicago White Sox in exchange for Melky Cabrera, reliever Tommy Kahle, and prospect Bernardo Flores. No such rumor was heard.

Even if the Rangers had the intention to dealing Choo, it’d be near impossible to find a team willing to purchase Choo’s expensive contract. If a team agreed to acquire Choo, there’s no doubt the Rangers would have to first agree to pay a large sum of Choo’s remaining salary. In other words, it would be the Alex Rodriguez situation all over again for the Rangers.

Keeping Choo seems to be a good move. Like Beltre, he’s a veteran providing leadership to the young players in the clubhouse. Choo is having a great year so far and must keep it up. The most important thing Shoo’s accomplished this season is staying healthy as mentioned earlier. Statistically, he’s doing all right. However, as we know, aging players don’t get you very far. Since Choo is owed a lot of money over the next three years, getting rid of him is no easy task.