Nelson Cruz and Lance Berkman were counted upon to be key bats in helping to compensate the losses of Mike Napoli and Josh Hamilton. Add A.J. Pierzynski on a one year deal along with the emergence of Jurickson Profar, and Texas was supposed to be all set.
Cruz, has performed admirably, staying healthy and posting 24HR, 71 RBI and a .329 OBP, performing every bit as a suitable middle-of-the-order bat.
After Cruz, the contingency plan has widely fallen flat. Pierzynski has regressed back to his career norms, and not the 27 HR bat he was last season, even in a better hitter’s park.
To put it lightly, Berkman, Profar, Pierzynski and Cruz, with two months left in the regular season, have combined to hit less home runs than Josh Hamilton alone all of last year.
Puts his playoff struggles into perspective, doesn’t it?
As a result, the Rangers, who are still hitting home runs with the jet stream in right, are ninth in runs and eighth in both OBP and OPS in the AL.
Thanks to a terrific pitching staff, Texas is very much in the race, six games out of the AL West but just one game behind Baltimore for the fifth and final playoff spot.
With Cruz expected to be suspended and indications implying he will not appeal it so he can enjoy his new contract in peace after his pending Free Agency, Texas needs an impact bat now and for the future.
It’s very likely Nelson Cruz and Lance Berkman never play another game in Texas after October (if not earlier) and Pierzynski is on a one year contract for a team who’s top prospect, Jorge Alfaro, is a catcher, albeit not expected to hit the majors until 2016.
Regardless, Texas has a combination of money coming off of the books and power disappearing and if it wants to win this year and in the near future like it has been used to in recent years, obtaining a prized bat under team control would be key.
Enter: Giancarlo Stanton.
Stanton would be the ultimate haul, an outfielder who can replace Cruz and outproduce his bat, with no steroid allegations, entering his prime and coming from a pitcher’s park. Of course, the Rangers have the farm system to obtain Stanton, which may start with the aforementioned Profar.
The Rangers have Adrian Beltre, Ian Kinsler and Elvis Andrus all under contract through at least 2016, which means, barring moving Profar permanently somewhere other than shortstop or third base, he’s a top prospect without a position and clearly not capable of assisting in the short-term the way Texas needs.
He’s a rich man’s Jesus Montero, whom the Yankees surrendered for Michael Pineda a couple of years ago.
Perhaps Profar and rookie Martin Perez, along with a lesser prospect or two would get it done and would blow every other team’s package out of the water. Even without Profar, Texas may be able to focus around Perez and a few other prospects of a high caliber.
Unfortunately, in a 48 hour time frame, this is unlikely to all come together and the Rangers will instead have to focus on an inferior right-handed bat.
Hunter Pence
Recent reports indicate the Rangers are pursuing Hunter Pence, he of the San Francisco Giants, who have had an abysmal July and have entered “sell” mode. Pence has 14 HR and 41 RBI to go with a .320 OBP in a massive pitcher’s park.
Oddly, he has just two home runs more away from home and his .777 and .779 OPS home and road splits are basically identical.
Still, entering the AL West and having a better supporting case could inspire Pence the same way it has in previous years around the trade deadline and Texas would not have to surrender a top prospect for a rental due to hit Free Agency for the first time after the 2013 season.
It’s not a long-term solution and may not be enough in the interim for the Rangers, but it is the most likely outcome for a team in desperate need of a bat.
