Texas Rangers: 3 teams that could take a chance on Willie Calhoun

After a weekend in which the Texas Rangers put on their best showing of the season so far, taking two out of three at home from the defending champion Atlanta Braves, not everyone got to celebrate success.

Willie Calhoun, the longest-tenured Ranger (consecutively, Martin Perez is here but left the team for a while), was optioned to AAA Round Rock following Sunday’s win. And his frustration about the demotion was evident, telling reporters “(I’m) gonna go to Triple A and put myself in a position to get traded,” Calhoun said. “I do want to be traded.”

It’s an unfortunate development for Calhoun, who once brimmed with potential as a prospect acquired in the Yu Darvish-Dodgers trade back in 2017. After a solid year in 2019, injuries and failed promise did Calhoun in with the Texas Rangers, and he now finds himself in a tough position.

Texas should do right by Calhoun and grant his trade request as he seeks a change of scenery. Why waste any more of his time or the organization’s time? Here are three potential trade destinations for the 27-year-old OF/DH.

3 teams the Texas Rangers could trade Willie Calhoun to

1. San Diego Padres

They’re always looking for outfield help.

The relationship between A.J. Preller and Texas is notable. San Diego was in on Joey Gallo at last year’s trade deadline and former Rangers Yu Darvish and Jurickson Profar presently call Petco Park home.

Currently, San Diego’s OF situation is subpar. They have Wil Myers, Trent Grisham and a group of Profar, Jose Azocar and Matt Beaty to mix and match out there. Not great.

Calhoun is from the Bay Area, so returning to the West Coast might be appealing to him, and the Padres would be able to give him a change of scenery and playing time. The fit makes sense. Perhap the Rangers could swing a deal in which they acquire Eric Hosmer along with a top prospect (Robert Hassell?) as suggested last season, sending Calhoun and maybe another piece or two back in the swap.

You never know.

3 teams the Texas Rangers could trade Willie Calhoun to

3. San Francisco Giants

This would probably be Willie Calhoun’s ideal scenario, which probably means the Texas Rangers wouldn’t pull the trigger here. Calhoun hails from the Bay Area.

There are few teams better at extracting production out of cast-off players such as Calhoun than the San Francisco Giants, who essentially employ a whole team of castoffs and turned them into a 107-win juggernaut in 2021. They could find value in Willie’s left-handed bat.

The Giants have Joc Pederson, Mike Yastrzemski, Darin Ruf, Austin Slater and Lamonte Wade Jr. (on IL), so they may appear set in the outfield, but Calhoun fits right in with their platoon mold, someone who they could use in advantageous situations in a game, as manager Gabe Kapler so often likes to do.

Calhoun seems like the perfect Giants chess piece, and perhaps the Rangers could pick up one of their own in return.