The Texas Rangers are dealing with some massive injuries and with Prince Fielder and Jurickson Profar possibly out for the season, some have suggested the team sign Kendrys Morales as a free agent while also considering trades of Adrian Beltre, Elvis Andrus and others to help build back pitching and prospects for the 2015 season and beyond.
The Rangers likely are losing Fielder for the rest of the season to neck surgery along with Profar, who has a shoulder injury and could be out for another three months after missing the season already. According to ESPN.com, Fielder is expected to have surgery on his neck that will be season ending and he needs at least three months to recover and that could keep him out for the rest of the year. The Rangers traded for Fielder in the offseason in a deal with the Tigers for Ian Kinsler and now the team could be setback for many years according to Jean-Jacques Taylor from ESPN.com.
The team now has short and long term concerns to think of following the injury, as they need to bring in a new bat to take over and long term, the Fielder trade could leave a big hole for the Rangers going forward. The team has been dealing with numerous injuries in the pitching rotation as well and that is why Jon Paul Morosi wrote that the Rangers need to consider trading players like Andrus and Beltre. The article on Fox Sports says that the team needs to build back its pitching for 2015 after losing Derek Holland and Matt Harrison and with players like Alex Rios, Joakim Soria, Geovany Soto, Colby Lewis, Jason Frasor and Neal Cotts all set to be free agents, the team could be sellers at the deadline. Yu Darvish is their only legit starter right now that has been consistent and the team needs more if they want to contend in the AL West.
Morales remains on the market and could be an option for the Rangers, but teams like the Mariners and the Brewers could be chasing him as well. Morales has been on the free agent market all offseason because of the draft pick compensation attached to him and now the Mariners are hoping to get a pick if someone signs him before the June draft. Fielder now ends his season with three home runs, 16 RBIs and a .247 batting average and he has not had the impact that many thought he would when he was traded last year.
Jon Daniels took over after Nolan Ryan was pushed out and he has orchestrated all these moves and now he has to find a way to dig out of the hole the team is in. Heck, even the Mariners are ahead of the Rangers in the standings and with some many big names on the DL, the team has to start thinking about next year and the future and if they get calls about some players, they should consider making a deal or two. The Rangers are in a tough spot and now they just decide what course of action to take here, as the loss of Fielder could be devastating for the team this season.