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Could Texas Rangers use Jurickson Profar to solve their starting pitching needs?

By Benjamin Chase

Apr 12, 2017; Anaheim, CA, USA; Texas Rangers third baseman Jurickson Profar (19) dives back after over running first base in the fifth inning of the game against the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 12, 2017; Anaheim, CA, USA; Texas Rangers third baseman Jurickson Profar (19) dives back after over running first base in the fifth inning of the game against the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports /
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Toronto Blue Jays

The Toronto Blue Jays have opened their season in terrible shape both on the field and in the injury department. If the Blue Jays would decide to come to the point of a fire sale, Profar would be an impressive first acquisition piece.

The Blue Jays would offer three veteran options in trade that could certainly interest the Rangers. Marco Estrada is an impending free agent, but he’s certainly the guy who’s thrown the best in the last few years of the group, and he’s having a very good year this year as well with a 3.14 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, and 12/45 BB/K ratio over 45 innings.

Francisco Liriano would give the Rangers a lefty for their rotation, but the impending free agent is also the most volatile. Just ask the Pittsburgh Pirates. In 2013, the Pirates brought in Liriano, coming off back-to-back 5+ ERA seasons and saw him post three seasons of 3.38 ERA or better before blowing up in 2016 with a 5.46 ERA over 21 starts before the Pirates traded Liriano at a dirt cheap price, only to see him pitch back to his previous form with the Blue Jays to finish the season, posting a 2.92 ERA over 10 appearances and 49 1/3 innings with a 16/52 BB/K ratio.

This season, Liriano has posted a 4.44 ERA, 1.75 WHIP, and a 20/30 BB/K ratio over 26 1/3 innings. It’d be likely the Blue Jays would have to include a piece to get Profar coming their way.

J.A. Happ is also a lefty, and he’s the only one of the group that’s signed for 2018. He’s also been injured this season, so it’d a bit of risk for the Rangers to pick him up. However, in spite of his 4.50 ERA over three starts, Happ has been very good, not allowing a single walk yet on the year, with a 0/20 BB/K over 16 innings.

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