4 Texas Rangers that could be dealt this offseason

Shin-Soo Choo

This trade suggestion is based solely on hope, as there isn’t much basis to discussing “the immovable contract“. With the 2018 season in the books, Choo has $42 million remaining on his Texas Rangers contract. He will make $21 million in his age 36 season and $21 million in his age 37 season. (Not one of the Rangers’ wisest contracts ever afforded, wouldn’t you agree?)

Any trade considerations for Choo will wait until Texas gets an answer from Adrian Beltre regarding retirement. Of course, a retired Beltre would pave way for Choo to takeover as the team’s primary DH. Choo as the DH would be satisfactory. After all, he had a solid 2018 season.

Trading the veteran would not be performance related as much as it would be about clearing a roster spot for an up and comer. The Rangers have a well-documented outfield surplus, so ridding of Choo and affording Willie Calhoun the DH role would kill two birds with one stone.

As usual, Choo’s status with the team will come down to the amount of his contract his team is willing to eat. No one wants an aging Shin-Soo Choo at the cost of $42 million, therefore, it’s up to the Rangers to determine just how much another team would spend for him. Unfortunately, that number will likely be in the single-digit millions.

The Texas Rangers will end up keeping Choo. If they couldn’t trade him when he was hot in July, they won’t be able to trade him before he turns 37 next July. The good news is he can still hit. Plus, the Rangers will need a veteran presence assuming Beltre retires.