Texas Rangers: Who stays and who goes when Hunter Pence comes back?

Yet another tough roster decision looms for Jon Daniels and the Texas Rangers. Who loses a spot when Hunter Pence is ready to return to the team?

With Hunter Pence expected to return sometime this week, it’s time the Texas Rangers start thinking about the coinciding moves in order to make roster space for him. There are a few weak links on this overachieving Rangers’ ball club, even within an offense that ranks third in MLB in runs scored. Who will lose a spot when Pence is activated from the IL?

Options

Rougned Odor has officially reached 5 years of service time, meaning he now has the power to turn down a demotion to the minor leagues. Despite his extreme struggles at the plate, he’ll be in the clear.  So, the roster decision hones in on Delino DeShields, Ronald Guzman, Logan Forsythe and Asdrubal Cabrera.

They could go multiple ways with this. One would be sending Guzman down. The 23-year-old first baseman has been phenomenal in the field, but he has not gotten it done with the bat. Texas would miss his glove tremendously, but with the position flexibility that Danny Santana and Forsythe bring, the team would survive without him. Guzman could spend some time in the minors redefining his swing and rediscovering himself at the plate.

Another option would be to DFA Forsythe, which would put the Rangers at risk of losing him to another team through waivers. In fact, a DFA would all but end his time in Texas. It is very hard to find a player who can play so many positions, and the veteran utility man has been very valuable for the Rangers this season. That’s why he’ll likely stick around and takeover for Guzman at first base (if Guzman is sent down).

Option 3: DeShields gets the demotion. Personally, I dislike this option. I feel it would not wise to send the speedster down when he’s been hitting so well. Since being brought up on June 2nd, DeShields has raised his batting average 71 points. Through the ups and downs, he still has a solid 1.2 WAR in 2019. There is  and will continue to be a logjam in the outfield, but Chris Woodward can find a way to make it work. Push option 3 to the side.

The fourth option would be to move Asdrubal Cabrera, as Texas wouldn’t be able to send him down for the same reason as Forsythe. But the front office could perhaps swing a quick trade or put him on waivers. Keep in mind, though, that the removal of Cabrera would cause a lot of movement, as he has been the everyday starter at the hot corner since the season’s start.

There really isn’t a great option for the Texas Rangers. Frankly, the player that is most deserving of a demotion is Rougned Odor, and as much sense as that would make, it simply won’t happen. As someone will inevitably lose a roster spot, I vote Ronald Guzman. It’s the only option I see as being a good thing for the sake of development. Glass half full, he could go down and come back up as the threatening hitter he was thought to be.

Either way you swing it, the Rangers are soon to have a very tough decision to make, with no easy, or obvious option. Hopefully Jon Daniels will make the best decision for the team.