The Texas Rangers have been positioning themselves to make moves this offseason and after trading for Prince Fielder, the team appears to be far from done and they could be willing to trade Elvis Andrus or Jurickson Profar in a deal to get pitching in the form of Cliff Lee or David Price.
According to the Dallas News and Si.com, the Rangers are willing to trade Andrus in a deal, but only if the team, gets back a star player in return and that could mean a trade will not go down. The winter meetings will give teams a chance to go back and forth on deals and with names like Cliff Lee and David Price available, the team could make a move with their stars. The Rangers were willing to make a splash with Fielder and now they would like to add some pitching as well to the mix after making the deal back in November.
If the team deals Andrus, they have Profar to use in the infield how they see fit and they could get back Lee after trading for him from the Mariners a few years ago. The Phillies are open to making a number of deals, but it remains to be seen how serious they are about doing it. According to Buster Olney, the team is open to trading Lee or Cole Hamels, but those deals don't really make sense if the team wants to win now, but that could change as they get offers. Andrus is one of the best shortstops in the game and last season he hit .271 with four home runs and 67 RBIs.
The 21-year old Profar has high expectations and he may have to start delivering them next season and Andrus come in after racking up 165 steals and 432 runs scored the past five seasons and he could be a huge snag for a team. Price is the top pitcher on the market and the Rangers have been interested, but Tampa Bay wants prospects and it will take a top player to get the deal done and likely the same for Lee.
The trade for Fielder was a huge splash and the Rangers now have a very stacked lineup even without Nelson Cruz and that is one reason why they are looking to add pitching. The team gave up second baseman Ian Kinsler in the trade and Fiedler comes in after hitting .279 with 25 homers and 106 RBIs in 2013 and he should be a nice fit at first base and in the middle of the lineup.
