Texas Rangers: 4 candidates to hit in the cleanup spot

Texas Rangers’ potential cleanup hitters: DH Willie Calhoun

Willie Calhoun has long deserved his chance for regular at-bats in the Texas Rangers lineup.

Acquired as the centerpiece of a July 2017 trade that sent Yu Darvish to the LA Dodgers, Calhoun is essentially a player without a position in the field.

Calhoun can play both outfield and first base, but with no vacancies at either of those spots on the diamond, the 26-year-old will settle for a DH role.

Assuming he beats out recently-acquired Khris Davis for the starting DH job, Calhoun has flashed the kind of middle of the order prowess the Rangers envisioned he would have when he made his big league debut.

2019 was his best season yet, with 21 home runs and an .848 OPS over 337 plate appearances.

More of that kind of production in 2021 would make him an intriguing cleanup hitter option for manager Chris Woodward.