4 Texas Rangers that could be dealt this offseason

The Texas Rangers are expected to have a rather serene offseason. Though, their outfield surplus may very well warrant at least one notable trade.

Make no mistake about it, the Texas Rangers are sellers ahead of buyers this offseason. That’s how a rebuild works. Though, the rebuild is nearing an end. Texas likes the youth in their offense and they like the pipeline of pitchers working their way to the majors. As such, 2019 will be more of a “wait and see” year rather than a “let’s go for it” year.

That doesn’t mean the Rangers won’t look to improve their outset by making a move or two for additional young pitching. They’ll certainly skim the market, but don’t expect extreme aggression from GM Jon Daniels.

Again, the organization is optimistic about the current offense. Couple that optimism with basically zero value in the pitching staff and Daniels doesn’t have much to trade.

If, and I mean IF Daniels were to make a trade, one of the following four players would likely be the headline name…

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.

Willie Calhoun

Will 2019 be the year the Rangers grant Willie Calhoun consistent playing time? Only then will everyone find out whether or not he can handle the major league level.

But what if I told you Calhoun will not play a single game with Texas next season? Not because he’s living life in the Rangers’ minor leagues, but because he’s been traded.

Sure, Calhoun was deemed the organization’s #2 prospect at the beginning of the year, but that doesn’t make him untouchable. If the Rangers plan on keeping Joey Gallo and Nomar Mazara then what’s the point of keeping Willie Calhoun? Calhoun can’t play center field and he’s an inferior corner outfielder. In addition, the idea of playing a 24-year-old at DH is absurd!

I’ve backed him in recent articles, but the more I analyze the Rangers’ roster situation the less sense I see in keeping Calhoun.

The consensus surrounding him as a prospect was sub-par defense with a consistent bat. He’s had success at the plate in the minor leagues, but that success has not transferred to the majors. He was supposed to be a guy that can hit to all fields and hit for a high batting average. Thus far, he looks like a guy that constantly swings for the fences and his batting average in 99 at-bats with the Rangers this past season was .222.

It’s not fair to judge someone with so little experience so harshly. Though, that’s what Texas may have to do. They can’t share playing time among five outfielders. Sending Calhoun to a team in need of a promising young hitter in return for a promising young pitcher would be a quality swap.

Nomar Mazara

If the Texas Rangers fear forgoing Gallo’s potential then they should probably fear forgoing Mazara’s potential as well. Who knows which player will go on to have a better career, but it’s best the Rangers fight future battles with the both of them on their side.

Mazara would probably warrant the most profound haul to the Rangers. But, just as the Rangers need Gallo’s power in the lineup, they need Mazara’s reliable bat in the lineup. The 23-year-old has MVP potential. He’s also Texas’ best shot at a perennial all-star. Giving up Mazara could set the franchise back just as it pushes the franchise forward.

A Nomar Mazara trade would be acceptable only if it lands the Rangers a top 3 starting pitching prospect. Again, it’s always a risk to trade an established big leaguer for prospect talent, no matter how talented the prospect is. And the Rangers wouldn’t be trading a 33-year-old getting ready to move beyond his prime. Rather, they’d be trading a player that is getting ready to enter his prime.