Texas Rangers: Finding a fit for Jurickson Profar

Jurickson Profar does not seem to have a defined role with the Texas Rangers. Where could he end up to start the year?

There was a time when Jurickson Profar was considered a key part of the future for the Texas Rangers. He was considered a future star, and was the consensus top prospect in baseball heading into the 2013 campaign. The infielder was expected to help lead the Rangers for the rest of the decade, and potentially be their next star.

Instead, things have not gone as planned. Profar has dealt with injuries that halted his progress, including shoulder surgery that caused him to miss the entire 2015 campaign. When he has been able to play in the majors, Profar has not looked like the player he was expected to be. In his 718 plate appearances, Profar has posted a .229/.309/.329 batting line, hitting 12 homers and stealing five bases. He just does not look like the all around threat he had been in the minors.

At just 25 years old at the start of the season, Profar’s career is at a crossroads. The Rangers do not appear to have a spot in the lineup for him, with Joey Gallo, Rougned Odor, Elvis Andrus, and Adrian Beltre entrenched in the infield. Meanwhile, he is out of options, leaving the Rangers no choice but to find a place for him. That is, unless the Rangers part ways with the former top prospect.

If the Texas Rangers do part ways with Jurickson Profar, where could he end up? Let’s look at a few potential landing spots.

Kansas City Royals

The Kansas City Royals infield situation is anything but settled. If the Texas Rangers are looking to move on from Jurickson Profar, Kansas City would be a great destination.

Right now, looking at the Royals infield, Alcides Escobar is the only player who has a position locked in. However, Escobar is on a one year deal, and has not exactly performed well over the past couple of years. Whit Merrifield was a surprise in 2017, but may end up moving to first should the Royals not bring back Eric Hosmer.

If Hosmer and Mike Moustakas end up signing elsewhere, the Royals do not have proven options in their place. Cheslor Cuthbert is penciled in at third for now, and has been decent in limited time, but can he be an every day player? Moving Merrifield to first would open a spot for Raul Mondesi, who has made Escobar look like an offensive juggernaut. Otherwise, former prospect Hunter Dozier may get his final chance to make an impact on the Royals.

Profar may not be a given, but he may well be a better option than what the Royals currently have. He still comes with four years of team control, and would fit in with a Royals team looking to cut payroll. With two openings across three positions, Profar could get his chance.

Jurickson Profar would make sense for the Royals. The only question is whether or not they have anything that the Texas Rangers would want in return.

Tampa Bay Rays

If ever there was a team that could get something out of Jurickson Profar, it may well be the Tampa Bay Rays.

While they have earned their reputation by building their bullpen from the scrap heap, they have had success doing the same in the lineup. Carlos Pena turned into a star after joining the Rays, and as recently as last year, they turned Logan Morrison into a borderline All Star. Perhaps they could work that magic on Profar as well.

As is the case with the Texas Rangers, Profar would not have a guaranteed spot in the lineup. Adeiny Hechavarria is set to be the starting shortstop, perhaps until the trade deadline if the Rays are out of contention. Matt Duffy, Brad Miller, and Jake Bauers are penciled in around the infield, but are not necessarily a given. Add in the recent acquisition of C.J. Cron, and the Rays infield is a bit more muddled.

However, the best role for Profar with the Rays may be to use him as a super utility player, similar to how they used Ben Zobrist. Profar has spent time at all four infield spots, as well as left field, in the majors. It would not be a surprise to see the Rays give him four to five starts a week as he played in different spots on the field.

The Tampa Bay Rays have done a great job of getting value out of formerly highly regarded players. They could do the same with Jurickson Profar.

San Diego Padres

The San Diego Padres may not seem like an obvious fit, but they have enough question marks where Jurickson Profar could be invaluable.

However, the Padres did trade Yangeris Solarte to the Toronto Blue Jays, getting rid of one of their more productive hitters from 2017. He split his time between second, third, and short last year, and ranked third on the team with 512 plate appearances. Solarte was tied for third with 18 homers, was second with 64 RBI, and his OPS+ of 94 was the fourth highest mark on San Diego in 2018.

In his place, the Padres are expected to turn of Carlos Asuaje at second, and brought back former All Star Chase Headley. However, Headley is not the same player he was before he left for New York. Backing up second and third is Cory Spangenberg, who has displayed potential, but has also struck out in nearly 25% of his career plate appearances. His defense, particularly at third, has left a lot to be desired.

While Profar may not look like much of an upgrade over Spangenberg, at least just yet, the potential is there. He has graded out better defensively, particularly at third, making him a potentially more attractive option. And that change of scenery could do wonders for Profar, allowing him to become the player that the Texas Rangers had hoped.

Jurickson Profar may still be able to tap into that potential. Heading to San Diego may allow him to do so.