Texas Rangers: Darvish, Kershaw, and Rebuilding the Farm
By Reid Hanson
Recent Texas Rangers talk have revolved around the uncertain future of Yu Darvish and how if not retained, he could be traded. We look into that now…
Earlier this month Dallas Morning News’ Tim Cowlishaw stepped out on a ledge and threw out a pretty controversial trade idea: Trade starting pitcher Yu Darvish for the best pitcher on the planet, Clayton Kershaw. To sweeten the deal the Texas Rangers would throw in budding superstar second baseman Rougned Odor and reliever Jeremy Jeffress.
This trade proposal was admittedly the product of a creative brainstorming session and not a substantiated rumor. The idea deserves an “A+” for creativity but a failing grade in just about every other facet. They guys on the “Ballzy” podcast at least think so.
"“I’m sad to say Tim has entered the concussion protocol at the paper,” Evan Grant said. “That is nuts.”"
While Tim makes a couple valid points regarding the depth the Rangers have in the middle infield (oh, he didn’t make that point? Well, he should have) and the gamble of investing $30M per year on a pitcher, is less a gamble with Kershaw than it is with Darvish, I’m overwhelmingly inclined to side with the Ballzy boys on this one.
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Rougned Odor is something special. Texas Rangers fans have been spoiled by having back-to-back power-producing second basemen in Ian Kinsler and Odor, but those kind of guys don’t come around every day. Jurickson Profar may prove to be just as special but he’s still a significant mystery at this point. Trading a player like Odor for a marginal upgrade at pitcher, would be “nuts”, as Grant so elegantly put it.
But that was yesterday’s discussion. What’s important to discuss today is the Evan Grant article that started this whole thing — The Texas Rangers must re-sign Yu Darvish ASAP or trade him to re-build the farm.
After numerous off-season and mid-season trades the Texas Rangers are left with some pretty bare cupboards. Jon Daniels is already challenged to come up with a viable five-man rotation as it is. If Darvish walks away for nothing, the Rangers starting pitching will be Cole Hamels, Martin Perez, and three guys named, your guess is as good as mine.
We know the Texas Rangers have been quiet in free agency and as we discussed in our chat a couple weeks ago, we expect spending and trading to be at a minimum this season. We assume they are budgeting for the re-signing of Darvish (and probably Jonathan Lucroy as well). Their contracts are going to be among the highest in MLB at their respective positions. The Rangers must decide that they either can or they can’t re-sign them or Texas could be left with nothing.
This off-season it’s fun to talk about free agent pick-ups and blockbuster trades. But the objective remains the same: position the team to re-sign Yu Darvish.
Next: Rangers Chat: Trade Market, Free Agency, and Breakout Players
Trading one or both players this season will set the Texas Rangers back significantly in the short-term but will instantly top-load a bottom-heavy farm system with prospects. It’s Plan A or it’s Plan B. Plan C leaves them holding the bag and that’s something that can’t be risked.