Texas Rangers, Say It Ain’t So: Trading Adrian Beltre
Washington Nationals
Now this is a fun one to think about.
It requires some wiggle, folks — say, Anthony Rendon moving to second, and Daniel Murphy getting healthy and splitting reps at first base with Matt Adams while Ryan Zimmermann nurses a broken something or torn something or missing something. Mark Reynolds also just joined the boys in Washington and has made an electric impression on the club, so it’s not especially likely that the Nats bring in a guy like Beltre.
Oh, but if they did.
An infield of Murphy/Adams at first, Rendon at second, Beltre at third, and Turner at short? Well, that’s just absurd. Rendon seems like the kind of ballplayer who would happily slide to second for a few months if it increased his chance at a World Series before ol Brycey Bryce heads for greener pastures.
(Though, for what it’s worth, my gut tells me he stays, or goes to Houston. Please, Bryce, don’t go to Houston.)
As for Texas’ return? Well, there’s a lot to like about the Nats’ farm.
The Nats have fallen miserably short of expectations in recent seasons, becoming almost too easy to knock out of contention. Bryce is in a walk year, Scherzer and Strasburg are in their primes, and it’s hard to say how much more guys like Daniel Murphy and Matt Adams really have to give.
The time is now for the Nationals, and nobody knows that more than they do. No doubt, bringing in a player of Beltre’s caliber would immediately improve Washington’s legitimacy (while also preventing their division rivals from improving themselves).
As for Texas’ return? Well, there’s a lot to like about the Nats’ farm. Robles and Soto are obviously off the table, Shortstop Carter Kieboom is, in many ways, a mini-Trae Turner, and might not have a position if both he and Anthony Rendon stick around in Washington for a while.
Lefty Seth Romero might be an intriguing player as well — big and strong, though with some baggage that he brought with him from college. Romero’s ceiling isn’t high, but his floor is, and that’s precisely the type of player that Texas could use in its rotation. Having pitched in college, Romero could expedite his way to the majors, and Texas, desperate for young, MLB-ready arms, would be very, very interested.
Former top pick Erick Fedde is a possibility as well, though his potential as a frontline starter seems all but gone. If he’s destined to be a swingman at best, the Rangers ought to look for more in a trade for a stalwart such as Beltre.