What Should the Texas Rangers Do with Jurickson Profar
By Matt Johnson
Mar 11, 2013; Surprise, AZ, USA; Texas Rangers shortstop Jurickson Profar (right) reacts after being called out on strikes as San Francisco Giants catcher Buster Posey (28) throws the ball around the horn during the third inning at Surprise Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports
There are many theories regarding the Texas Rangers’ future plans for the Netherlands’ product. A Profar for Tavares? Price? Stanton?
All have their upsides, but who says the Rangers have to do anything.
He does not need to be shipped to the infield-hungry St. Louis Cardinals. Rumors swirled involving a Profar for outfielder Oscar Tavares. Wishful thinking for most, but that trade won’t happen.
Nelson Cruz and David Murphy’s time with the Rangers might be winding down due to free agency, but that doesn’t mean Texas needs to get desperate.
Secondbaseman Ian Kinlser is signed on for five years, but he has signed on to be a Texas Ranger, not a second baseman. If the Rangers need him to play a corner outfield spot, they need to move him.
Elvis Andrus is locked up for the foreseeable future, but that doesn’t mean Profar doesn’t have somewhere to go. Profar can play second if need be, and until the Rangers figure out what to do with him, minor-league at-bats aren’t going to hurt him.
The only way I say move Profar is if the Rangers trade him for something they can capitalize on right now, and in the future.
Miami’s Giancarlo Stanton and Tampa Bay’s David Price are the top two on that short list, but both scare me a little.
Stanton, 23, is young, athletic and has a bat that is only getting better. He is a career .268 hitter, and slugs at a .544 clip.
Apr 26, 2013; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Marlins right fielder Giancarlo Stanton (27) connects for a base hit in the first inning against the Chicago Cubs at Marlins Park. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY SportsThe third-year rightfielder’s average has increased all three seasons in the big leagues, and he has hit 34+ home runs twice already.
Stanton could be a hot commodity as the trade deadline comes around in July. Miami may be ready to get rid of him for a relatively cheap price just to get rid of him. He isn’t a bad clubhouse guy or have lingering injuries, the Marlins just aren’t good at baseball right now. After selling off the majority of their lineup during the offseason, Miami just might give Texas a great deal.
Not only would the help the Rangers now by giving them another power bat to make up for the loss of power after Josh Hamilton, Mike Napoli and Michael Young left, but he helps in the future if he can stay healthy.
Stanton is arbitration eligible after the 2013 season, and is under contract until 2017.
Price, 27, is the ace of the Tampa Bay Rays. The lefty has won 51 games over the past three seasons including a 20-win Cy Young winning 2012.
Apr 23, 2013; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher David Price (14) throws a pitch during the first inning against the New York Yankees at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY SportsPrice is also coming up on arbitration eligibility, and Tampa has the reputation of letting the big-ticket players leave the organization in order to save money and grow from within.
Price could bolster a Ranger rotation that would, on paper, resemble the best rotation ever over the next 5 seasons. Yu Darvish, Price, Derek Holland, Colby Lewis (or Martin Perez) and Matt Harrison.
That rotation could scare even the murderous of rows.
Think about it though. What do the Rangers need most, an outfield bat with plenty of upside, or a perennial ace who could lead the rotation?
Or…
The Rangers can keep Profar, move Kinsler to the outfield, trade Cruz or Murphy for a decent bat, and promote Profar to 2B.
Profar is only a prospect, not proven in any way in the big leagues. But yet, rumors swirl about where he should end up and what the Rangers should do with him.
My take, keep him. Move some pieces, continue to grow Justin Grimm and Nick Tepesch. Go from there.
It sure is fun to speculate and give opinions, but until Jon Daniels and company lay out their plan, we can only guess.