Texas Rangers: Does Jurickson Profar Have A Future in Arlington?

It’s time to put the 2017 season behind us and look forward to the future for the Texas Rangers. Should trading young infielder Jurickson Profar be a must for the organization this off-season?

24-year-old Jurickson Profar was once a top prospect in the Texas Rangers farm system. A handful of injuries and lack of consistency have kept Profar from becoming a regular on the Major League roster.

Does Profar still have a chance at becoming a reliable player in Arlington? He hit just .172 with five RBI in 22 games with the Rangers in 2017. He spent most of his time in Triple-A where he put together a solid season.

In Triple-A Round Rock, Profar hit .287 with seven home runs and 45 RBI in 87 games. He walked 43 times with just 33 strikeouts, and looked like he was ready to take the next step into the MLB.

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The Rangers decided to keep Profar off the September roster since there wasn’t every day at-bats for him. Could we see an increased role for Profar in 2018 with Texas or is his time in Arlington coming to an end?

It’s difficult to imagine Profar getting much time with the Rangers next season. For the most part the Rangers roster is set, and just have bench roles to fill along with a possible outfield spot. Profar’s arm doesn’t profile well for a starting outfielder, and the infield is a better fit for him long-term.

At this point it’s better if Texas trades Profar for a pitcher they can use in 2018. The bullpen and rotation have plenty of holes, and Profar could be useful trade bait. The Rangers would likely rather trade Profar over making him into a bench player.

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There is still potential for Profar to become a reliable Major League player. It’s just not likely going to happen with the Rangers. Look for Profar to be on the trade block this winter for possible bullpen or rotation arms.