Monday Newsletter time: A potential 2022 task for the Texas Rangers is finding trades for surplus middle infielders
The additions of Corey Seager and Marcus Semien have gobbled up spots that were manned by four holdovers from 2021.
A new year means new beginnings for many folks, a chance to start fresh on things that need to be addressed.
My sweet tooth, for instance.
Four Texas Rangers players have a bigger fish to fry: finding a place to play in 2022. The Rangers might be able to accommodate them by finding a new team for them.
Nick Solak, Andy Ibanez and Yonny Hernandez have been displaced at second base by the addition of Marcus Semien. Isiah Kiner-Falefa is no longer the starting shortstop after the Rangers signed Corey Seager.
All four have played third base, though Solak less so than the others. Ibanez and Solak have played outfield. Kiner-Falefa and Hernandez probably could. Ibanez spent time at first base in his rookie season.
Every team needs a utility man who can play shortstop, which Kiner-Falefa and Hernandez can do.
The Rangers can’t keep all four on the roster. They can keep three if third baseman Josh Jung starts the season in the minors, but eventually the max will be two.
Kiner-Falefa might draw the most interest, but he’s also the best of the four and could play multiple times a week with or without Jung on the roster. Solak or Ibanez could platoon at designated hitter with Willie Calhoun and play one or twice a week at best.
Hernandez needs more time in the minors.
Four is a crowd, and don’t forget about the stockpile of middle infielders the Rangers have in the minors.
As soon as the lockout ends, expect the Rangers to start listening to offers on their surplus infielders.
Wildfire hits close
Not only is Cole Winn the Rangers’ No. 3 prospect and reigning Minor League Pitcher of the Year, he’s also from the great state of Colorado. He grew up in Longmont, which is north and a tick west of Denver and pretty much due north of Louisville.
For those who were watching the news Thursday, Louisville and neighboring Superior were badly damaged by a wildfire that was stirred up by winds as strong as 100 mph and an unprecedented wintertime drought.
Winn reported that his family, including his grandparents in nearby Boulder, were not affected.
Neither were my Aunt Lynn and Uncle Jeff, who live in Louisville and are Newsletter subscribers, but man, was it close.
They obeyed the mandatory evacuation and took refuge at my cousin’s house, where they were glued to local TV stations to monitor the fire and see if they still had a place to live.
Their house survived by about a quarter-mile. The chunk of neighborhood to the immediate south was destroyed and so were homes to the west.
Help is needed. Nearly 1,000 structures were lost in less than 24 hours. If anyone feels motivated to offer assistance, here’s how you can do so.
ICYMI …
Another holiday weekend might have kept you away from the Newsletter more than you would have preferred. Not a problem. Here’s our latest, in case you missed it.
The Sunday Read: Best wishes for the 2022 Rangers
T.R.’s Memoirs: The John Blake Effect on the Rangers
A lockout update from Marcus Semien
Doggy video!
Me, in about mid-January after attacking my resolutions for two weeks. Enjoy.
