Texas Rangers: Does an improving Rougned Odor increase trade likelihood for Jurickson Profar?

The Texas Rangers will not stray from Odor at 2B

Listen, MLB is a business. In business, contracts carry a ton of weight. The Texas Rangers inked Rougned Odor to a wealthy 6-year, $49.5 million contract prior to the 2017 season. It was a deal that seemed fair at the time as Odor had emerged as one of the top power hitting second baseman in all of baseball. Unfortunately, he has performed terribly ever since he signed the contract.

Now, the organization has their hands tied. Odor has played badly enough to where he could be benched. Furthermore, he’s played badly enough to where he could be demoted. Yet, he continues to play almost every game. Why? Because of his contract.

He has improved as the season has progressed, especially as of late. But a player with Odor’s numbers over the last year and a half would not have the chance to improve at the big league level unless he had a high-dollar contract. That is the exact case with Rougned Odor.

Do not expect the Rangers to open the second base job to competition. If they haven’t taken the job from Odor by now then they won’t be taking it away from him any time in the near future. That is of course bad news for Jurickson Profar, a player who does not have the cushion of a big contract.