Rangers outfielder Shin-Soo Choo is hitting the DL with a fractured left forearm, according to an announcement from VP of communications John Blake. The tough-luck injury occurred on a hit-by-pitch.
Given that it’s mid-August, it’s certainly possible that Choo’s latest injury could keep him out for the rest of the season. After all, Jon Jay is still on the DL after breaking his forearm nearly two months ago. And Rangers catcher Robinson Chirinos missed two months with his own, similar injury.
That sort of timetable makes a post-season return possible, though that may be a tall ask if Choo doesn’t have a chance to rehab in live game action. And it isn’t yet clear whether Choo will require a full two months; we’ll need to wait to learn of his particular prognosis.
Regardless, it’s a big blow to Texas and to Choo. It seems that Ryan Rua will take his spot on the active roster, and the club also has slugger Joey Gallo available. Those two will be useful replacements, as will Delino DeShields Jr., and Drew Stubbs, and the club can mix and match at its leisure once rosters expand in September.
But Choo remains a strong on-base threat at 34 years of age, and is especially excellent against right-handed pitching (despite carrying reverse platoon splits in his limited action this year), making him a difficult player to replace. It just hasn’t been meant to be this year, as he has now hit the DL on four separate occasions for a variety of ailments. Texas has already needed to find replacements for Josh Hamilton (Ian Desmond) and Prince Fielder (Carlos Beltran) earlier in the year.
If the Rangers do take to the market once more, they’ll have a few options, as MLBTR’s top twenty current trade candidates list shows. Melky Cabrera would represent a rather similar player, though the Rangers may not love the idea of taking over his future commitments. Brett Gardner and Nick Markakis are other potential left-handed-hitting options. Carlos Gomez can be had, though he’s an uncertain commodity and hits from the right side.
Looking past the present campaign, Choo remains a somewhat frustrating player for the Rangers. He carries a useful .259/.361/.422 slash over 1,377 plate appearances since signing before the 2014 season. But that’s not quite what the team hoped to receive out of the first three of seven years in his huge contract. Choo is still owed $82MM over the remainder of that pact.
I bet Daniels wishes he could redo the offseason in which he landed Choo
ow
Ryan Braun?
Would never make it through waivers to get to them
Brett Gardner is a logical fit. Similar skill-set.
I agree, Yanks would probably like to part with him. But Markakis has less injury issues and steady play.
Gardner has been battling injury issues himself lately. Though I’m sure he’d be on the DL by now if it was something serious. But he hasn’t started the past 3 or 4 games.
It could have more to do with Judge and Austin’s performance last few games.
Gardner got hit by a pitch in the ankle, should be back today. judge is the right fielder and Austin will mainly be playing first.
There is 0% chance of any Yankees players passing through waivers to get to the #1 AL team in Texas, have you all forgotten how the system works? Stop wasting your time with these kinds of suggestions. Boston would claim anyone the Yankees would put out there just to block them from going to a fellow contender, as would all other contenders. Like, why on earth would the Mariners let this happen? They would not. Texas is limited to horrible players like Coco Crisp or their own farm.
Maybe the Yankees just let the Red Sox have him. He appears to be declining in all phases of the game. Having him block Beni for the next two years may be better than having him block Frazier.
So how many contracts is Boston willing to take on? I think your “plan” has merit, but not exactly like Cashman wouldn’t see what is happening. If Boston claimed McCann (one who passed all the way through without Boston claiming them), Tex, Headley, and Gardner, Cashman could say, “Fine, take all of their salaries.” That would leave Boston with $16.625M approximately this year and $84M not counting options and buyouts over next three years. Heck that would be a good $30M sitting on Boston’s Hot Corner.
Would Gardner still get enough ABs in 2017 and 2018 to justify acquiring him now, or would he just be taking valuable playing time from younger, potentially higher upside Rangers such as Profar, Gallo, and Rua?
Choo has two very frustrating traits that organizations regret with these albatross contracts:
1. Slow-starter. A guy who can lose you a lot of games in April and May at the plate. Choo always has been a Summer & beyond hitter, and the stats show it. Rangers have had issues mustering up wins in the early months and the lack of Choo (and Fielder sans 2015) hitting made it hard for them be steady in the West.
The Choo the Rangers pay for is the one that comes out in the Summer. And is such a great hitter you slowly forget how much you are paying him until…
2. Injury-prone events: Guy just has bad luck with getting hurt. Not only do you get 1/4 of a bad season of Choo, but you get a non-existent Choo or a slumping Choo playing through some sort of ailment.
His bat and power and talent is beautiful, and when you see him at his best there’s little argument over his contract.
But the odds of ever getting this guy, a guy who will be a year older next year, at his best is becoming less, and the contract becoming almost as devastating as Fielder’s.
I don’t think his slow start is nearly as pronounced as you make it seem. He has a career .817 OPS in April and .825 OPS in May, compared to an .818 OPS in July and .818 OPS in August. His June OPS is a little lower, but the only month that is really out of the ordinary is his .960 OPS in September.
yes…the numbers don’t lie. Choo is a .267 hitter for his career in the first half of the season and a .298 hitter in the second half…including a .325 mark for the month of Sept.. His power numbers are very good in Sept and he was a big reason for the Rangers comeback last year to make it to the playoffs, hitting 387 in Sept. Of course, Choo was also a reason for their terrible start in April when he hit less than .100.
If the Rangers r looking for external options then maybe Nick Markakis is the answer. Not only has he showed more power recently but his ability to bat lead off would prove useful to the Rangers line up.
I agree, as mentioned above in gentleman’s suggestion of Gardner. I think he still has potential to get back to where he was with Os. He is on pace most RBIs since his age 25 season and can get back to double digit HRs, as well as, still carrying a decent average.
I don’t think anyone is getting fleeced by the Braves as you can tell not allot of action during deadline and Teheran didn’t bring half the prospect the Braves thought they could get otherwise they would deal him.
Not really a thought of fleecing, just a matter of two needs filled.
Gardner has more power and on base percentage.
Markakis for Profar!
Lol
Did anyone see the pitch that got him? How TF did that break his arm? This guy is made entirely of glass. Choo the Glassman!
same thing just happened to Matt Holliday of the Cardinals. It’s baseball. 🙁
Some very tiny wrist bones. Should jerk his hands UP like Beltre instead of hugging himself.
Gardner makes a ton of sense. He could be had for a mid level prospect. Texas may even ask about McCann in a package if they decide they we going all in and Yanks maybe eat some money and get a better prospect. I’m confused about what Gallo value is in the organization but if he is still not some how in the mix I’m thinking it’s not as high as prospect lists have him and maybe Gallo is sent to Yanks in that deal depending on how much Yanks eat?
Why would they want McCann, when they just gave up a good little bit for Lucroy?
Yeah there is no match here, at all. The fact that any of these Yankees would fall to the #1 team in the AL on the waiver wire is wishful thinking alone. Boston would block it just out of spite.
The Rangers refused to include Gallo in either the Hamels trade last year or the Lucroy trade this season. So I’d say they value him above the level of a Brent Gardner swap. Not to mention there is no way he’d make it through trade waivers.
I’d try to give them Gardner and throw in hicks for his arm as a defensive replacement for a couple good pitching prospects.
Disregard I actually forgot Rangers traded for Lucroy and don’t need McCann.
Sorry, phone didn’t update soon enough to see your retraction.
I hope they can get Nick Markakis, Ryan Braun would’t be bad either though.
Are they going to target a pitcher also?
Does any team let Markakis drop to the Rangers tho? I don’t see it happening.
If you trade for anyone now they couldn’t play in post anyway right?
Josh, I think they have to be on the roster before Sept 1 to be eligible for the post season.