5 creative trades that could improve the Texas Rangers in 2022

The Texas Rangers are expected to be big players in this year’s free-agent market. With little on the books and a large bank account, they can sign (practically) whoever they want.

Money isn’t the only currency in MLB, though, as Texas boasts one of the deepest farm systems in baseball. Through trades and the draft, they’ve been able to rise to the 11th overall farm system according to MLB.com. With multiple prospects showing consistent improvement,  it could reasonably go up before the year starts as well.

The Rangers are particularly deep with middle infielders. That, combined with them expected to sign one if not two shortstops, all while having Isiah Kiner-Falefa already established means there will be some movement. In the majors, you have Yonny Hernandez and Andy Ibanez who were called up in 2021. They will be looked at as the depth pieces, but following a 102 loss season, no one is safe.

Texas isn’t exactly looking to field a playoff roster right now. If they were to add players via trade it would be for controllable players, such as Nathaniel Lowe last year.  That leaves most one year rental players off the list. Needs will also be better established after free agent signings, but talent acquisition through trade could be a more popular route with uncertainty with the CBA. With that in mind let’s take a look at…

Texas Rangers trade targets- Garrett Cooper, OF – Miami Marlins

Cooper will be controlled through the end of the 2023 season and is projected to make $2.9 million in ’22 through arbitration. That leaves two years to see how well he fits with this team.

The haul proposed above may seem like a steep price to pay for someone who has only played 95 games over the past 2 years but Garrett Cooper is worth it.

Over the past 3 seasons (212 games) he has hit for a .282 average with 30 home runs. The Texas Rangers FO is likely to fall in love with him as well since he is an analytics dream. His hard-hit rate last year was a career-best 52.7% and he drives the ball to center at a 55.7% rate. He also tends to keep the ball in play with a 52% ground ball rate as compared to 25% for line drives and 20% for fly balls.

As mentioned earlier, an infielder will likely be in any package so Wendzel would headline the return. Miami is also expected to move some starting pitchers so a controllable young major league arm is also a good get for them.