Texas Rangers Trade Rumors: A Big Trade on the Way?
By Cody Smith
Anyone that watched the Texas Rangers in 2019 know there are question marks around third base and catcher heading into the 2020 season, but maybe that can be fixed? According to rumors, a National League team may be wanting to deal their former-MVP third baseman, or maybe their catcher.
On a local radio appearance in Chicago, notable baseball reporter, Jon Morosi hinted at the Chicago Cubs possibly making a deal with the Texas Rangers that could involve Kris Bryant or Willson Contreras.
Why would the Cubs want to deal either of these stars? Ever since winning the World Series in 2016, the team regressed every season, losing in the ALCS in 2017, the Wild Card in 2018, and missing the playoffs entirely in 2019. The team showed that they were interested in heading in a different direction when they agreed to part ways with Joe Maddon at the end of the season. Theo Epstein knows what he is doing in Chicago, and he is preparing to cash in on a possibly huge haul for one, or both of those players if they find the right deal.
Either of these moves would make sense for the Rangers as Bryant would be 28 come Opening Day, and Contreras would turn 28 midway through May. Bryant would not become a free agent until 2022, while Contreras will not become one until 2023, meaning that the Rangers would have multiple years of club control if they were to acquire either of them.
Yes, it is going to cost a lot in terms of prospects, but Texas is just a few pieces away from re-joining the playoff discussion, as they managed to stay alive in the Wild Card race until past the half-way point of the season. With a healthy season from Joey Gallo in 2020, plus the addition of either a Bryant or Contreras into the starting lineup, the Texas Rangers would find themselves with one of the most formidable lineups in baseball, that could give any pitcher that they’re going to face nightmares.
The cost? Yeah, it’s going to cost quite a bit. My guess would be that the Cubs would get a package for just one of them that would be something like Nomar Mazara, Hans Crouse, Joe Palumbo, Taylor Hearn, and Bubba Thompson. Bryant or Conteras won’t be cheap at all, but for the first time really since the 2016 season, the Texas Rangers have the ammunition in the farm system to pull off a trade of this magnitude.
And in terms of money, Bryant or Contreras would likely cost under $20 million for the 2020 season, due to their arbitration, so if the owners actually decide to let Jon Daniels spend some big money, he could attempt to make a run at a starting pitcher or some bullpen pieces to put the finishing touches on this team for 2020.
A possible way to free up some spending money for the off-season could be for a deal involving Shin-Soo Choo, who is in the final year of his deal. The Rangers could either deal him for a starter in the last year of his deal, or Choo plus a low-level prospect or two to a rebuilding team that can afford to take someone on like Choo.
Whatever it takes to get Gerrit Cole!! Am I right?
If the Rangers did pull off trades that would send Mazara and Choo away, to bring in one of Contreras and Bryant, this lineup would scare even the mightiest of opponents:
CF-Delino DeShields Jr.
C-Willson Contreras
LF-Joey Gallo
RF-Nick Solak
SS-Elvis Andrus
2B-Rougned Odor
OR
CF-Delino DeShields Jr.
1B-Danny Santana
DH-Willie Calhoun
3B-Kris Bryant
LF-Joey Gallo
RF-Nick Solak
SS-Elvis Andrus
2B-Rougned Odor
Next. Why 2019 must be considered a success for the Rangers. dark
Either lineup would be a ton of fun to watch when healthy and firing on all cylinders, and thanks to Jon Morosi for giving Texas Rangers fans something interesting to keep an eye on for this off-season.
- Published on 10/07/2019 at 12:45 PM
- Last updated at 10/07/2019 at 09:38 AM