Texas Rangers: How should they act with the trade market?

Should the Rangers elect to sell?

Here is where things get very interesting. Jonathan Lucroy is just as significant in the seller’s market as he is in the buyer’s market, but if we’re talking selling, the superior gossip surrounds Yu Darvish.

Darvish is in the final year of his 6-year contract and is due to make $11 million this year. Popular opinion indicates the Texas Rangers still plan to attempt to re-sign the 30-year-old ace this offseason. However, the uglier this season gets, the more reasonable it becomes he will test the market.

There isn’t a tougher decision in MLB right now than the one GM Jon Daniels must make with Yu Darvish. Darvish has not quite lived up to the superhuman hype which suffocated him when he left Japan for the states, but who could? He’s still the greatest success story for a Japanese starting pitcher. He is one of the most profound strikeout pitchers in the history of MLB, and he has carried the load for the Texas Rangers’ staff since day one. It’s difficult to give that up.

That being said, think about the potential return. Starting pitching is heading the market right now. The Cubs, Astros, Yankees and Rockies are among the teams looking for starting arms. Every single one of those teams is ample in prospects. The Cubs have lost some flair in the minors, however, they have Ian Happ and Kyle Schwarber at their disposal. Texas could reload the farm system in the blink of an eye.

Will Jon Daniels pull the trigger? The possibility could be increasing, but we’ll never know what is going on in his wise mind. It would be wise to at least test the field for Yu Darvish. If at any point Daniels is blown away by an offer, then it’s a done deal. He has the bargaining power, as it seems his intention is to bring Darvish back this offseason.