The Texas Rangers have made a number of significant trades this season in acquiring players such as Cole Hamels, Josh Hamilton and Will Venable. Rumors mentioned earlier this year that the team could trade some high-profile players of their own, most notably Shin-Soo Choo and Elvis Andrus.
However, the two have picked it up in the second half of the season as the club is looking to contend for an AL wild-card spot. Will general manager Jon Daniels change his mind?
"Given the club's financial resources, my guess is they [Choo and Andrus] are less likely to be traded," writes Gerry Fraley of the Dallas Morning News. "The Rangers do have to clear payroll space if they are to re-sign Yu Darvish. He won't be such a team bargain on the next contract."
Trade rumors mainly followed Andrus in the offseason while Choo was subject to such talk in July.
The first half of the season for these two was not at all promising. Choo owned a .221/.305/.384 stat line in 80 games while Andrus' was .242/.301/.323 in 86 games. Both players are under long-term lucrative contracts and it was speculated the Rangers would try to do away with them in the offseason if the poor play continued.
Choo is scheduled to make at least $20 million per season from 2016-2020 and Andrus is making at least $14 million per season through 2022 (and has a vesting option for 2023). Neither has provided much of an impact since signing those immense deals, but the second half of 2015 has provided some hope.
Choo is slashing .327/.451/.542 with 23 runs scored, 4 home runs, 18 RBIs and 3 stolen bases in 32 games. He's been much more efficient since the All-Star break and is only 15 runs, six doubles and 20 RBIs away from his first-half totals in just one-third of the at-bats. As for Andrus, the 27-year-old is hitting .291/.311/.411 with 22 runs scored, 3 home runs and 18 RBIs in 37 games and has already matched his home run total from the first half.
However, Fraley also noted that the issue of trading one or both of these players is still an important topic for the team during their offseason meetings due to future contract issues with other players.
"The Rangers do have to clear payroll space if they are to re-sign Yu Darvish. He won't be such a team bargain on the next contract."
Texas already has $120 million committed to the 2016 payroll, $95 million in 2017 and $79 million in 2018. They'll also have to deal with signing some new starting pitchers in the offseason since Yovani Gallardo and Colby Lewis are set to hit free agency. Mitch Moreland will also be eligible for arbitration and Venable will become a free agent.
Daniels will still have a good amount of work to accomplish once the season ends even after he made moves to put the team in a good position for 2016 and beyond before this year's trade deadline.
