The Rangers announced that they have placed both Prince Fielder and Shin-Soo Choo on the 15-day disabled list, although the injury to Fielder appears to be fairly serious in nature. Fielder has been diagnosed with a herniated disk in his neck — a different disk than the one that required neck surgery in 2014 — and MLB.com’s T.R. Sullivan reports that surgery has been recommended as an option (Twitter link). He’s set to meet with the surgeon who performed his last neck operation for a second opinion. Choo, meanwhile, has lower inflammation in his back. The pair will be replaced by Delino DeShields and Hanser Alberto, per the Rangers’ announcement.
[Related: Updated Texas Rangers Depth Chart]
Originally acquired from the Tigers (along with cash considerations) in exchange for Ian Kinsler, Fielder struggled mightily in his first season with Texas (2014) before ultimately succumbing to neck surgery. He rebounded in magnificent fashion last year, slashing .305/.378/.463 with 23 homers and 28 doubles — his most productive campaign since 2012. However, Fielder has been in what has appeared to be a season-long slump at the plate in 2016 and has looked very much like the 2014 iteration of himself, hitting just .212/.292/.334 through 370 plate appearances. Fielder had been among baseball’s most durable players at the time of his acquisition, missing just one of 810 games from 2009-13. However, the Rangers are now faced with the possibility of seeing a second season lost to neck injuries, with Fielder still under control for another four years beyond the current campaign. While the Tigers are paying $6MM of Fielder’s salary on an annual basis, the Rangers still owe him an additional $18MM per year through the 2020 season.
The hope for Choo, Sullivan tweets, is that he’ll be back in the minimum amount of time necessary for his stint on the disabled list. General manager Jon Daniels, it should be noted, told reporters that the pair of injuries doesn’t alter the club’s approach at the trade deadline this year (Twitter link via Sullivan). The Rangers’ main focus at the deadline will continue to be on bolstering the pitching staff rather than adding another bat.
This would have been a perfect opportunity for Gallo to be called back up
I agree. Something about Gallo isn’t adding up. They called him up earlier this year but didn’t play him. They clearly need his bat right now, but aren’t calling him up. I’m beginning to wonder if he has an ego or attitude problem in which they are trying to teach him a lesson. Or does he have a fundamental flaw in his approach that they think would be exposed by a MLB pitcher which would in turn impact his trade value. Something doesn’t make sense
I’m not sure. Whoever comes up in this situation is not going to start. This basically just gives profar more at-bats. I think it’s tough on a young hitter to come to the major leagues and sit the bench. Let him develop
This has little to do with Gallo, and much more to do with Profar. The only decent leadoff hitters Texas have used this season have been Profar and Choo. This allows Profar an everyday opportunity while Choo is out. He should be the leadoff hitter every game until Choo gets healthy. The chances Texas trades Profar now dramatically decrease.
As for Gallo, it wouldn’t increase his trade value if Texas called him up two weeks prior to the deadline and he struggled, like he has been in AAA recently. Knowing there’s an opportunity with the big club should drive him to start playing better. Then, if he’s not traded, call him up after the deadline.
He does have an attitude problem, he was benched in AAA for a while earlier this season. He is still young and learning that’s why he’s not being called up right now. He’s hitting .250 at AAA right now, there’s absolutely no way he could handle major league pitching. They’re probably trying to avoid another Chris Davis situation. Gallo will hopefully be ready next season but he is certainly not ready yet.
Except he hasn’t even mastered AAA yet
Would’ve expected Gallo to be called up over both of these guys with the DH spot open…
Any chance Profar will get more playing time?
I would think so. Let’s hope that’s case. The kid deserves it.
that’s the case*
One would think so
welcome to Texas Jay bruce.
Meh. No worries we have produced without him all year long. More atbats for the .318 hitting Profar
Come on Braves time to move Frenchy to the Rangers. He is hitting lefties well. Won’t get much but could be a nice piece for the Rangers.
Don’t need him. Rua is a similar hitter with more versatility.
Not a bad move, would go along with other moves today that were not considered huge, but good pieces moved.
Fielder on the DL is still better than having a terminal case of Kinsler on the Rangers. No room for selfish players on our roster.
Kinsler was selfish?
If you don’t think the Kinsler-Fielder trade was terrible for the Rangers then you are delusional
Man am I glad Seattle missed out on the Fielder sweepstakes. There were so many fans that wanted us to sign him but he is just going to get worse add he gets older. His body is too big to take the pounding day in and day out. There will be 2 if not 3 years if dead money when this guy just can’t play anymore.
there is literally zero chance we make the playoffs last year without Prince Fielder though
Or maybe a different DH would have helped get us to the playoffs and then done something when there?
We’ve already reached the dead money phase of Fielder.
Agreed
Preach!
JD we need u to do something now before this season get away from us. go get Bruce and lucroy
keep your head. Trade deadline is still all about pitching right now. Maybe add a veteran left-handed bat. But honestly our offense is good
Our offense is fine, our starting pitching is garbage behind Hamels and Darvish
This is great news for the Rangers, not so much for Prince.
Odor moving to the OF and give Profar 2B
Odor’s errors are making that look very possible.
I think Profar would be the one getting time in the outfield. I heard he was working out in the outfield yesterday before the game. Hopefully he provides the spark we need from the DH spot.
If Odor is making that many errors at his natural position just imagine how many he would make playing the OF
Worked out for Ian Desmond, who made an absurd amount of errors at SS last season. Odor statistically also has more range than any 2B in the MLB. Once he learns to not turn good plays into errors, he’ll be fine. I’m more concerned about his terrible OBP than his defense at this point in his very young career.
how about moss, wong and jack flaherty and tyler lyons for profar
Prince should just take a buyout and retire. Once you fuse one vert. then the next one wears out and so on…
I doubt he wants to wind up hardly able to turn his head for the rest of his life.
youtu.be/synC66GNDAM Alexei bell
That is a dream for the Cardinals! The Rangers hang up the phone without a response….
Interesting – Rangers are shopping Gallo big time – offered up in both deals involving Odorizzi and Moore while Profar was off the table. Rays want top prospects but must face reality. Both Jake and Matt will not demand top 10 draft choice candidates.
Tough break for Prince. Hopefully he won’t require surgery. If so, career might be close to being over.
I’m pretty sure if the Rangers offered Gallo for Moore or Odorizzi they wouldn’t be playing for the Rays right now
Prince should probably retire. He hasn’t been the same since the first neck surgery. Dude isn’t even hitting for power anymore.
Gallo will be included in a trade. I remind all that JD failed to give Prince a pre-trade physical. You make the best deal you can for a starter–even if it is a rental–because Rangers will win division with minimal starting help.