Dealing with a plethora of other internal options at shortstop, Texas Rangers general manager Jon Daniels recently told MLB Network Radio that he would be willing to listen to offers for Elvis Andrus, who signed an eight-year extension worth just under $120 million last year.
Jon Daniels said that they will “listen” on Elvis Andrus because of their depth including Luis Sardines, Jurrickson Profar and Odor XM 89
— Jim Bowden⚾️🏈 (@JimBowdenGM) November 16, 2014
Last season, Andrus’ performance fell short of many people’s expectations, as the infielder batted just .263/.314/.333 for Texas, numbers that are largely in-line with his career averages. Despite the contract, the 26-year-old Andrus has never broke out in a big way as some anticipated, although he remains one of the most prominent shortstops in the league.
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Appearing in 157 games, Andrus made it four straight seasons in which he played at least 150 contests for the Rangers, and in those games, he swiped 27 bases, although he was caught 15 times in the process. Daniels’ remarks on the young shortstop contrast to some comments he made just days earlier, amidst countless trade rumors swirling around Andrus.
"“Yeah, there’s going to be speculation, that’s the nature of the business and the nature of our side of the business and (the media’s) side of the business,” Daniels told ESPN late last week. “Nothing you can really do about that. We are obviously committed to Elvis both figuratively and literally. He’s 25, 26 years old, and this guy’s best baseball is ahead of him.”"
His comments come on the heels of a season in which Andrus posted a career-low .263 average, to go along with a career-worst .314 on-base percentage. With the likes of Profar, Odor and Sardines all in the mix for the middle infield at Arlington, the leash for Andrus could be considerably shorter, although working out the logistics of a deal could be difficult.
As the ESPN Dallas article points out, Andrus begins his contract extension in 2015, one which will pay him roughly $15 million annually for the next six seasons. There are also very specific needs the Rangers have and finding a trade partner that would and could meet those demands (such as a mid-level starting pitcher) could prove harder than thought. The contract, coupled with his 2014 performance, make such a deal even more difficult.
After breaking onto the scene in 2009 with a second-place finish in the American League Rookie of the Year balloting, Andrus has seen his fair share of ups-and-downs, including a pair of All-Star selections. However, with several teams seeking shortstop help, the 26-year-old’s time in Texas could be shorter than anticipated.