Who Could The Texas Rangers Trade This Winter?

CHICAGO, IL - MAY 17: Delino DeShields (L) and Joey Gallo #13 of the Texas Rangers can't catch a single hit by Nicky Delmonico #30 of the Chicago White Sox during the second inning on May 17, 2018 at Guaranteed Rate Field in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by David Banks/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL - MAY 17: Delino DeShields (L) and Joey Gallo #13 of the Texas Rangers can't catch a single hit by Nicky Delmonico #30 of the Chicago White Sox during the second inning on May 17, 2018 at Guaranteed Rate Field in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by David Banks/Getty Images)
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ARLINGTON, TX – AUGUST 19: Rougned Odor #12 of the Texas Rangers hits a run scoring single against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim during the first inning at Globe Life Park in Arlington on August 19, 2018 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TX – AUGUST 19: Rougned Odor #12 of the Texas Rangers hits a run scoring single against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim during the first inning at Globe Life Park in Arlington on August 19, 2018 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images) /

After a disappointing down year for the Texas Rangers, which players have the highest trade value going into the offseason, and are most likely to be dealt?

The Texas Rangers had an objectively bad year. Some players did decent, but most did not. The farm has finally started to look like it’s shaping up to make this team great again, with the majority of those prospects projected to come up between 2019 and 2021. With the hot stove looming right around the corner, who’s staying, and who’s gone?

DETROIT, MI – JULY 7: Rougned Odor #12 of the Texas Rangers reacts after being called out on strikes against the Detroit Tigers during the eighth inning at Comerica Park on July 7, 2018 in Detroit, Michigan. The Tigers defeated the Rangers 7-2. (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images)
DETROIT, MI – JULY 7: Rougned Odor #12 of the Texas Rangers reacts after being called out on strikes against the Detroit Tigers during the eighth inning at Comerica Park on July 7, 2018 in Detroit, Michigan. The Tigers defeated the Rangers 7-2. (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images) /

Rougned Odor

Odor didn’t have a bad season by any means. In fact, according to Baseball Reference, he posted career highs in overall WAR, as well as defensive WAR. He still has a very large contract looming, with at least 4 more years left, not including his $3 million buyout in 2023. If Adrian Beltre decides to make a return for one last hurrah, it appears the Rangers will have an infield jam. Although some are saying Beltre would handle DH mostly, this still leaves Jurickson Profar without a position a good chunk of the time with Elvis Andrus at SS and Ronald Guzman at 1B.

SEATTLE, WA – SEPTEMBER 27: Jurickson Profar #19 of the Texas Rangers reaches for a line out by Mitch Haniger #17 of the Seattle Mariners in the first inning during their game at Safeco Field on September 27, 2018 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)
SEATTLE, WA – SEPTEMBER 27: Jurickson Profar #19 of the Texas Rangers reaches for a line out by Mitch Haniger #17 of the Seattle Mariners in the first inning during their game at Safeco Field on September 27, 2018 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images) /

Jurickson Profar

Profar seems to just be the “other possibility” when discussing trading an infielder. He is only under arbitration for 2 more seasons, so one option is that he could be handed the starting 3B job, as mentioned above, when Beltre retires. If this happens, expect an extension sometime in the next season or two. If not, it’s possible he’s traded, as he was once the #1 prospect in baseball, and finally showed some promise in the 2018 season. He’s the one most likely traded if Beltre decides to put on the cleats for one more year. It’s also worth noting that Nolan Arenado is a free agent after the 2019 season, so if the Rangers are on the verge of breaking out, signing a big free agent or two could be in the cards to open up the new Rangers stadium.

CLEVELAND, OH – MAY 2: Joey Gallo #13 celebrates with Nomar Mazara #30 of the Texas Rangers after Mazara hit a solo home run during the second inning against the Cleveland Indians at Progressive Field on May 2, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH – MAY 2: Joey Gallo #13 celebrates with Nomar Mazara #30 of the Texas Rangers after Mazara hit a solo home run during the second inning against the Cleveland Indians at Progressive Field on May 2, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) /

Nomar Mazara/Joey Gallo

When Nomar first came up for the Rangers, fans believed he would be the next Rangers superstar not named Adrian Beltre. Unfortunately, in the 3 years he’s played, he’s failed to show significant development while hitting major league pitching. He hasn’t been bad by any means, but fans thought he would be having a lot more success as he developed. Joey Gallo, on the other hand, is a conflicting player. You can easily see him hit .200 every year, but also hit 40 HRs every year. Expect one of these players traded if the Rangers decide to make a big splash in free agency for a player like Bryce Harper.

HOUSTON, TX – JULY 29: Mike Minor #36 of the Texas Rangers pitches in the first inning against the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park on July 29, 2018 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TX – JULY 29: Mike Minor #36 of the Texas Rangers pitches in the first inning against the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park on July 29, 2018 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images) /

Mike Minor

“Mike Minor is the only pitcher that isn’t absolutely terrible, why would the Rangers trade him?” Yeah, it probably won’t happen. But there is a chance it could. There are only a couple FA pitchers this offseason worth giving significant money to, and most teams just don’t have that monetary flexibility. Expect the Rangers to trade Minor if a team needing a back-end SP offers some solid prospects. This delay’s the Rangers’ competing window, but it also my make them better in the long run.

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