5 prospects the Texas Rangers can afford to trade this year

When you’ve got a farm system with the kind of depth that the Texas Rangers have, the idea of trading prospects is less daunting than it may seem.

In theory, the Rangers are still rebuilding. And they will continue to be until they pivot to win-now mode, which should be sooner rather than later. But this rebuild has taken on a unique identity, to the point where Texas feels it can contend by 2023 after having only started the process in full in 2020.

A big reason for this shift in perspective? The sheer accumulation of talent in the pipeline. The Texas Rangers have the 11th-ranked farm system as per MLB.com, but that’s a talent-based ranking alone. If you were to re-rank based on depth, though, you’d be hard-pressed to find a system deeper than the Rangers have.

With that in mind, here are five prospects Texas could afford to trade this year in hopes of upgrading the big league roster.

5 prospects Texas Rangers can afford to trade this year

1. Sherten Apostel

Apostel is the only prospect on this list that has had any big league exposure to this point.

It hasn’t always been smooth sailing for the first baseman, who was acquired in a trade with the Pirates that sent reliever Keone Kela to Pittsburgh and Taylor Hearn back to Texas.

That trade looks like a win for the Rangers, who may have a piece of their future in Hearn, even if Apostel appears expendable.

Apostel has a big bat, which matches his big frame. He also has above-average arm strength, which could make him an asset at third base as well. He’s even tried his hand at pitching.

Unfortunately, the Rangers don’t have much room for him anymore. With Nathaniel Lowe at first and Josh Jung soon to be at third, Apostel is effectively blocked. And unless he blossoms as pitcher, the opportunities are running thin for him in Arlington.

HIs value would likely be better utilized elsewhere.

5 prospects Texas Rangers can afford to trade this year

3. Trevor Hauver

Much like Davis Wendzel, Trevor Hauver find himself amidst a glut of infielders in the Texas Rangers farm system.

Hauver was one of the pieces acquired in the Joey Gallo deal with the Yankees last summer, and his inclusion felt more like depth rather than anything really substantial.

The 24-year-old doesn’t have a set position defensively; the Rangers have tried him at both second base and in the outfield. His talent is more evident in his bat, which he grades out positively for his contact skills and plate discipline.

But also like Wendzel, there are others in the farm system that also have that profile such as fellow former Yankees Josh H. Smith and Ezequiel Duran. Those two are much more likely to see Arlington than Trevor Hauver at this point.

It’s less of a slight on Hauver and more of a casualty of depth, but the Rangers might find that Hauver is more valuable as a trade piece this year.

5 prospects Texas Rangers can afford to trade this year

4. Ronny Henriquez

Henriquez may be surprising to see on this list, but consider it a good thing that he’s on it.

That’s because the Texas Rangers have been much better at devoting resources to drafting and developing pitchers over the last few years, namely Cole Winn, Jack Leiter, Owen White, T.K. Roby, Ricky Vanasco and others.

Henriquez has the talent and the stuff (his fastball grades out above average) to make it to the big leagues one day, but in what capacity remains to be seen. His undersized stature could make teams hesitate to have him start games (though not impossible, see Marcus Stroman) due to the fact that he has durability issues. That could destine him for a bullpen role.

The fact is, though, Henriquez is talented. He has the velocity and movement necessary on his pitches to get hitters out. He might not be a future staff ace, but someone’s pitching staff could benefit from having the right-hander. It just may not be the Rangers.

5 prospects Texas Rangers can afford to trade this year

5. Yerry Rodriguez

Rodriguez almost made the big leagues in 2021, reaching AAA Round Rock as part of the organization’s late wave of prospect promotions last September.

It’s very possible Rodriguez has a cup of coffee with the big league club in 2022, but that’s just the thing: a cup of coffee may be all that’s in store for Rodriguez with the Texas Rangers.

The Rangers’ current pitching situation would seem to suggest that Rodriguez will get an opportunity to make the team out of spring training, but what happens once he gets pushed out by better competition down the line?

Much like Henriquez, Rodriguez has the stuff to be successful and has a good delivery to the plate, but he lacks in durability, which clouds his future role as a big league pitcher.

Perhaps another team would be able to generate more out of Rodriguez than the Rangers have to this point.