With just a few days remaining until the trade deadline, Texas Rangers general manager Jon Daniels, CEO Nolan Ryan and the remainder of the front office are working the phones to try and make the right deals.
There are more than a few names connected to the team and all seem to make sense in one way or the other. Though one has stuck out and made some fans scratch their heads.
New York Mets outfielder Carlos Beltran seems to be the object of the Rangers’ affection. He’s not exactly a guy they need, and while he makes the Rangers’ offense that much stronger, some feel it’s not a move they need to make.
But here’s the reason this move makes all the sense in the world. Look at the possible lineup the Rangers would roll out every single night from the day after the trade deadline to the end of the regular season.
Ian Kinsler, Elvis Andrus, Michael Young, Josh Hamilton, Carlos Beltran, Nelson Cruz, Adrian Beltre, Mitch Moreland, and Mike Napoli.
That offense can and will be able to put up runs against just about every pitcher they’ll face whether it’s the regular season or the playoffs.
This is a lineup that doesn’t give a single break to opposing pitchers. You have eight guys who can hit the long ball and do so on a consistent basis.
The biggest question on everyone’s mind is what the Rangers will need to give up to land Beltran.
Here’s the answer to that question: The Texas Rangers are willing to give up one minor league pitcher not named Martin Perez and possibly another minor league position player, as long as his name isn’t Jurickson Profar.
The Mets, on the other hand, are asking for two minor league pitchers as well as a position player. A few names that have come up are the likes of Joe Wieland, who the Mets were scouting earlier in the week, and Robbie Erlin, a guy some fans absolutely do not want to give up.
If it’s my decision to make, three minor league players seems to be too much for a guy who’s only guaranteed to be with your team for the next three months. Longer if the Rangers make a deep run into the playoffs.
Daniels and Ryan will do everything they can to make the moves which will put this team back in the World Series. They will make the right moves to push this team over the top not only in the American League’s Western Division but also in the American League itself.
While Beltran isn’t the only move they are looking to make, it could be the one move that will start a domino affect, the likes of which we haven’t seen with this team in a long time.
Whether you want him or you don’t, the one thing you can’t deny is how much stronger he makes the Rangers’ offense.
It’s a risk to give up minor league talent for a guy who may only be with the team for three months. But if this team, and this town, celebrates its first ever World Series Championship, no one will remember the young players they gave up to get there.
