Texas Rangers: Why trade talk sends the wrong message to the team
By Reid Hanson
Texas Rangers trade talk may send the right message to fans but it sends the wrong message to the team.
Who would have thought when the season first opened that the Texas Rangers would be 12 games behind the Houston Astros in the race for the American League West? In what has shaped up to be a disappointing season, the Rangers still have a legitimate shot at claiming a wild card spot in the postseason.
Yet with so many players set to become free agents next season – so many valuable players. It’s almost impossible not to talk trades. Especially in light of the disappointing season we’re now in. But the Rangers are hesitant to talk trades at this moment. They don’t want to discuss buying or selling at this point. The primary reason being, they don’t want to send the wrong message to the team.
Don’t let Jon Daniels’ comments allow you to think the Texas Rangers don’t plan on doing anything.
It’s true that despite all of the injuries and struggles Texas has endure, they’re still very much in this thing. With players finally getting healthy, their lineup starting to take form, and Cole Hamels beginning his rehab assignment things are looking up for Texas (notice I didn’t mention the bullpen).
Jon Daniels recently had this to say on105.3-FM The Fan’s Ben and Skin show and said this:
"“We haven’t really started with trade talks at this point. We’ve been talking about it internally a little bit. I think where we are, we expect to be in this thing. We expect to contend, expect to win. I think if there were anything we would address externally we would try to potentially look if there’s a way to help our bullpen some, a group that I still think is more talented than they’ve performed.”"
Bad Message
Selling right now by trading away players would send the team the wrong message. It’s a quitters mentality and unbecoming of a member of the organization. You and I, on the other hand, would be remiss if we didn’t discuss it.
Additionally, even talking about trying to sell sends a bad message. That’s a good reason to be cryptic in any trade talk with fans and the media.
Do you love to Talk Texas Rangers? Join the Sport DFW team!
Jon Daniels did touch on one painful area of the team: the bullpen. The bullpen has been so bad he was virtually required to express his disappointment in them. But even that he qualified with “I still think [the bullpen] is more talented than they’ve performed”.
All of this was as if to say, I acknowledged the bullpen stinks but… (turning to the players) I believe in you guys!
Like it or not this is exactly what needs to be said. Fans, media, and the front office can be long-sighted, but coaches and players must be short-sighted.
Next: Can Tyson Ross Salvage the Rangers' Season?
Don’t let Jon Daniels’ comments allow you to think the Texas Rangers don’t plan on doing anything. History tells us they’ll do something. It just wouldn’t be wise to talk about it now while players are still trying.