Texas Rangers: Shin-Soo Choo’s contract seems to have won yet again

It seems Shin-Soo Choo will stay with the Texas Rangers through the deadline. He has a lot to offer to a contender; however, his contract is far too unfriendly to make a deal.

Trade rumors involving veteran Shin-Soo Choo have lost fuel quickly. He was a hot topic a few weeks ago as he was setting on-base records; however, that was the peak of trade curiosities. Ultimately, Choo’s 7-year, $130 million contract will win again by keeping the 36-year-old with the Texas Rangers.

The weeks leading up to the trade deadline seemed as good a time as ever to move Choo. He’s having an outstanding season and he has especially performed over the last three months. His .390 OBP ranks 11th in all of MLB and his .862 OPS ranks 27th. He also has 20 home runs and 21 doubles to his name. Without a doubt, Shin-Soo Choo has plenty to offer to a contender. Unfortunately, contending teams cannot see past two road blocks: his contract and his role as DH for the Texas Rangers.

Choo is signed through the 2020 season and the Rangers owe him an additional $42 million once this year’s salary is paid off. He will be 38 years old in the final year of his contract. Even if he could boost a contending team’s playoff or championship chances, no team wants to pay the majority of Choo’s remaining contract and no team has the patience to work a 37 or 38-year-old into a lineup for the next season or two.

In addition, Choo has played only 32 of 108 games in the field in 2018. His primary position has been designated hitter and designated hitters are simply limited within the trade market. Literally, half of MLB is taken out of play. Plus, every American League contender is already set at the DH role. Choo is still a quality outfielder, but no one seems to care.

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Of course, it’s not all bad. Choo is known to be an outstanding teammate and he has taken on a mentor-type role in his veteran days. He’ll be a fine guy to have around as the Texas Rangers go through their rebuilding stage.

He can obviously still play. This is Choo’s best season in years. While he likely won’t be contributing to any Rangers’ playoff bid next season, every team needs a couple of recognizable, reliable veteran players on the roster. Let’s not get down on a rebuild and assume Texas will be terrible in every facet of the game next season. Choo will be hitting leadoff next season for a good offense.

Who knows? Shin-Soo Choo may be traded this offseason or maybe he’ll even be traded by tomorrow afternoon. Though, don’t get your hopes up. Choo is a fan favorite, but it would have been nice get at least part of his contract off the books and maybe acquire a prospect or two to contribute to the rebuild. Instead, Choo will stay a Ranger and be a veteran presence throughout the rebuild.