In four full seasons with Texas, Elvis Andrus has career totals of 341 runs scored and 123 stolen bases.
The Rangers enjoy the benefit of having two quality shortstops below age 25 in their system — Elvis Andrus and Jurickson Profar — and that flexibility may allow the club to use one of them in a deal to obtain pitching, catching or outfield help.
Some of Texas’s offseason needs could change based on where free agents like Mike Adams, Josh Hamilton and Mike Napoli sign this winter, but the Rangers are sure to be looking for a front-end starter as well as depth in the infield, outfield and behind the plate.
Andrus, 24, is in the middle of a three-year contract that will pay him an average annual salary of $14.4 million through 2014, and his name has come up in recent trade rumors linked to Arizona Diamondbacks right fielder Justin Upton.
At the Major League Baseball general managers’ meetings last week in California, USA Today‘s Bob Nightengale reported that while Texas has “expressed strong interest” in Upton, the club may be unwilling to part with either Andrus or Profar.
To that end, the Rangers attempted to get yet another young shortstop over the weekend – Andrelton Simmons of Atlanta – in exchange for corner infield prospect Mike Olt, but the Braves turned down that proposed deal, perhaps wanting to acquire Upton themselves to satisfy their own outfield needs.
“[Upton] will not be an easy guy for us to move,” Arizona general manager Kevin Towers said in Nightengale’s piece. “But if somebody is willing to step up and we think it’s a deal that’s going to make the Diamondbacks better next year and going forward, we’ll talk about trading him.”
Should Arizona indeed choose to hang onto its 25-year-old outfielder, the Rangers may use Andrus or Profar as part of a trade elsewhere, or they could keep both and turn the pair into next season’s middle-infield combination.
That would displace Ian Kinsler at second base, of course, although the three-time All-Star has previously indicated a willingness to switch positions if needed, most likely to a corner outfield spot.
“I think it’s definitely possible,” Kinsler said after signing a $75 million contract extension back in April. “Whatever it takes to win games … I want to be of value to the club any way I can. If that comes about, it’s definitely something I’m willing to listen to.”
Hamilton Declines Offer; Wins Silver Slugger Award
As expected, outfielder Josh Hamilton turned down the Rangers’ qualifying offer of $13.3 million, officially making the first-time free-agent one of the marquee names on this winter’s open market.
Hamilton, an All-Star in each of his five seasons with Texas and winner of the 2010 American League MVP award, batted at a .285 clip last year while posting gaudy power numbers with 43 home runs and 128 RBIs.
For his performance, Hamilton took home his third career Silver Slugger on Nov. 8, joining Julio Franco, Juan Gonzalez, Alex Rodriguez and Ivan Rodriguez as the only players in franchise history to have won the award at least three times.
Cotts, Four Others Agree to Minor-League Deals
Veteran left-hander Neal Cotts was one of five players signed to minor-league contracts by the Rangers on Monday, with all five receiving invitations to big-league spring training next March.
Aside from Cotts, who had approved his deal in principle last month, Texas also agreed to terms with catcher Juan Apodaca, outfielders Jim Adduci and Aaron Cunningham and right-hander Yonata Ortega.
Texas Trades for Southpaw Hottovy
The Rangers acquired left-hander Tommy Hottovy from Kansas City last Thursday in exchange for cash considerations and a player to be named later.
Hottovy, 31, spent much of the 2012 season with Triple-A Omaha in the Pacific Coast League, making 41 relief appearances and finishing with an impressive strikeout-to-walk ratio of 3.81 across 50 innings pitched.
Nate's Notes 
You must be logged in to post a comment.