The Texas Rangers are in big trouble right now, and it doesn’t look like things will get easier any time soon. They just escaped getting swept by the 1st place Houston Astros last night and now head to Seattle to play three games in the Pacific Northwest against a Mariners team that plays far better at home opposed to the road. The possibility of the Rangers getting swept this weekend is very real, meaning Texas could fall to at least 10 games behind the AL West leading Astros and panic will ensue…if it hasn’t already. They currently sit 7 games back in the AL West, and it appears that the Astros will run away with this division if they continue their strong play and stay healthy. The AL East already looks like a lock for the one game Wildcard Playoff (some combo of NY, BOS and BAL), so the Rangers have to clean house immediately and trade current players in order to help rebuild a farm system that only boasts 2 players in the MLB Top 100 Prospect list (#49 OF Leody Taveras and #50 LHP Yohander Mendez) or risk falling into obscurity for the foreseeable future. That brings us to their next problem being that they have very few veteran players that are the least bit appealing on the trade market and ones that would be enticing are currently on the DL. To make matters even worse for Texas, it was learned yesterday that ace Cole Hammels will miss at least the next 8 weeks due to injury, so let the Yu Darvish sweepstakes begin!!! Here are a few ideas as to where Darvish could be headed, and how the Rangers can help re-build in the process. Yu Darvish not only the best trade asset Texas has, but could also be the best available pitcher in MLB via trade and teams will be lining up to add him to their rotations before the deadline.
CHICAGO CUBS
CUBS GET
Yu Darvish – SP (UFA in 2018)
RANGERS GET
Javier Baez – IF (Under team Control with Arbitration until 2021)
Jeimer Candelario – 3B (Hitting .333 in Iowa right now)
WHY THIS WORKS FOR BOTH TEAMS-
The Cubs offense is fine and in no way, shape or form does the absence of Javier Baez from the Cubs lineup hurt them offensively. The Chicago lineup is currently stacked, and let’s be honest here folks, Ian Happ WILL be your starting 2B for the next 8+ years once he arrives (which will be soon) and Baez will be the odd man out. As For Candelario, he is having a great season in Iowa but the reality is that Bryant and Rizzo aren’t going anywhere any time soon. No matter if it’s Texas or some Place else, he will be traded or be a reserve at best. Baez and Candelario would give Texas 2 young players to add to the mix with Baez possibly taking Odor’s spot at second base and Candelario either moving to 1B or DH in the near future. The only questionable position for the Cubs right now is pitching. There is a really good chance that Darvish will leave Texas as an UFA so Rangers need to get what they can and this move gives the Cubs a Solid SP which is an instant upgrade from John Lackey and Brett Anderson. If Darvish had numerous years remaining on his deal there is no doubt that Texas could get much more, but getting a king’s ransom for a “rental” player will likely scare away many suiters from over-paying. Cubs have the luxury of being the reigning Champions and certainly have more than enough to win right now, but no sense in not making your team better if given the opportunity. Since you never know when injuries will strike, there is no such thing as too much good pitching, and this move would be a win-win for both teams.
LOS ANGELES DODGERS
DODGERS GET
Yu Darvish – SP (UFA in 2018)
RANGERS GET
Will Smith – C (2016 1st Round Pick)
Mitchell White – RHP (2016 2nd Round Pick)
Gavin Lux – SS (2016 1st Round Pick)
WHY THIS WORKS FOR BOTH TEAMS –
As a Die-hard Dodgers fan, I am in NO WAY sold on the LA starting pitching right now. Dodgers have a #1 followed by question marks, inconsistent performances and injuries. Adding Darvish to the LA rotation would be an immediate upgrade from anyone they have who isn’t named Clayton Kershaw. “If” healthy (and I stress the “If”), a rotation of Kershaw, Darvish, McCarthy, Wood and Urias could certainly be a force to be reckoned with in the postseason. Yes, as you made have noticed, I am being extremely optimistic about the LA health and outlook when I include McCarthy and Wood in a potential post season rotation for the Dodgers – but it’s Friday, I ain’t got no job, and I believe in the power of positivity (it’s a new day, yes it is!) As for the Rangers, they would get to take advantage of LA in this deal by getting both of the Dodgers first round picks from 2016 along with a second round pick that surely has potential. Will Smith has a few years to go, but he will become an MLB everyday starting Catcher down the road, and the same can be said about the young Gavin Lux. With the emergence of Seager as the top young SS in MLB and top 2B prospect Willie Calhoun awaiting his call the MLB level, Lux will be the odd man out in LA, so his loss wouldn’t be as hard of a pill to swallow as would be the loss of Will Smith, BUT……if it gets the Dodgers a World Series Championship by adding Yu Darvish it’ll all be worth it. Mitchell White would be a great addition for Texas as he certainly has a high ceiling and recently converted from a RP to SP. This move would give the Rangers players that will need a few years to develop but that is a great way to bring along your farm system when your able to trade an UFA and get two first round picks along with a second round pick in return.
BOSTON RED SOX
BOSTON GETS
Yu Darvish – SP (UFA in 2018)
Adrian Beltre – 3B (UFA in 2019)
A.J. Griffen – RHP (UFA in 2019)
TEXAS GETS
Pablo Sandoval – 3B (UFA in 2021)*Boston pays 100% of Sandoval’s contract
Jay Groome – LHP (2016 1st Round Pick, #1 LHP in MLB Top Prospects list)
Michael Chavis – 3B (2014 1st Round Pick)
WHY THIS WORKS FOR BOTH TEAMS –
This trade “technically” involves six players, but really only five since Texas would only take on the roster spot and not the contract of Pablo Sandoval. This deal would actually be perfect for both team because of the two pitchers involved. Boston would add Darvish to a rotation that could possibly look like Sale, Price, Darvish and Rodriguez as your one through four, with Porcello, Pomeranz and Griffin all competing for the five spot entering the postseason. Boston would be adding Darvish, Griffin and also Adrian Beltre to a roster that is built to win and compete right now. Beltre is an UFA in 2019 and it doesn’t appear as though he will get that chance to win a ring by remaining in Texas, and this move would allow him to move to a contender and play at 3B for at least the remainder of the season when he returns from injury and he would certainly be an upgrade from Sandoval. I am totally aware that Jay Groom is the #1 LHP prospect in all of MLB, but Boston is in the most competitive division in baseball and by giving up their top pitching prospect, they would receive what could be the best SP that will be available by trade this season along with an outstanding player to cover 3B or be a DH in Beltre. Texas, in return, would get a top pitching prospect to build around along with a young 3B in Michael Chavis that will give them flexibility at the corners along with the DH spot for the future. Taking on Sandoval isn’t ideal, but if Boston was willing to cover his cost, it’s worth it to be able to develop young players during that time along with “tanking” for a few season in order to get those high draft picks. If Boston was able to add another ring their recent collection, I don’t think they would have any issue giving up Groome and eating Sandoval’s contract to achieve that goal.
I think it’s pretty obvious that Yu Darvish will be traded this season due to the poor play of the Texas Rangers along with the recent loss of Cole Hammels to the starting rotation. I truly believe that a large market team (like the Cubs, Red Sox, or Dodgers) will be willing to part with some key future assets and possibly current everyday players to add what might be the best player available at the deadline to their respective rotations. It’s only the first week of May and things are already getting interesting in the MLB trade market, it’s already looking to be an interesting summer.
Northside Manner 