When Jon Daniels was let go by the Rangers on August 17th of last year, fans rejoiced that new leadership in the form of now President of baseball operations and GM Chris Young would be taking over the reins of the franchise.
While most fans wanted Daniels out due to the rut of six straight losing seasons that the Rangers are still in the midst of, it was well known that Daniels was the mastermind behind building the 2010 and 2011 Al pennant-winning teams.
What people still seem not to realize is that he may have helped build another one on his way out.
Sure, the big stars like Marcus Semien, Corey Seager, and Jacob deGrom were brought in by Chris Young’s motivation to get ownership to open up their checkbooks but what about the other players?
Let’s revisit some trades that took place years ago, which helped make the Rangers into the team they are today.
Oakland A’s Receive
- Elvis Andrus
- Aramis Garcia
- $ 13.5 Million
Rangers Receive
- Khris Davis
- Jonah Heim
- Dane Acker
2023 standing: Aramis Garcia (Not with Oak, PHI minor leagues) Elvis Andrus (Not with Oak CWS .197 1 HR 13 RBI)
Khris Davis (not in MLB) Jonah Heim (TEX .284 7HR 46 RBI, one of the best catchers in baseball) Dane Acker (1.38 ERA at A Hickory)
Tampa Bay Rays Receive
- IF Osleivis Basabe,
- C/OF Heriberto Hernandez,
- OF Alexander Ovalles
Rangers Receive
- Nathaniel Lowe
- Jake Guenther
- PTBNL
2023 standing: Basabe, Hernandez, Ovalles (Not with Rays MLB Team)
Nathaniel Lowe (TEX .272 8HR 39 RBI 2022 AL silver slugger)
New York Yankees Receive
- Joey Gallo
- Joely Rodríguez
Rangers Receive
- Ezequiel Duran
- Josh Smith
- Glenn Otto
- Trevor Hauver
2023 standing: Joey Gallo (Not with NYY/ MIN .197 11HR 23 RBI) Joely Rodriguez (Not with NYY/ Bos 0-0 18.00 ERA)
Ezequiel Duran (TEX .302 8 HR 28 RBI) Josh Smith (TEX .211 3HR 5 RBI) Glenn Otto (AAA rehab assignment) Trevor Hauver (AA Frisco .228 5 HR 26 RBI)
St. Louis Cardinals Recieve
- Cash considerations
Rangers Receive
- Adolis Garcia
2023 standing: Adolis Garcia (Tex .258 15 HR 54 RBI, 2021 AL All-Star)
Not a single player, the Rangers, traded in any of those trades is in the big leagues with the team that they were traded to.
It would be one thing if Lowe, Garcia, Heim, and Duran were just your average, typical everyday MLB starters, but these players are each playing at an all-star level this season.
Not to mention the front office who drafted Josh Jung with the 8th overall pick in the 2019 MLB draft.
Jung is hitting .284 this season with 13 home runs and 40 RBI. By midsummer, Jung would be starting the all-star game at 3rd base as a rookie, which hasn’t happened this decade.
Looking back at the draft, the only player taken below Josh Jung, who you could make a chance the Rangers should have taken instead, is D-Backs outfielder Corbin Carroll who is hitting .313 with 14 home runs and 35 RBI.
All Rangers fans know how the likes of Corey Seager, Marcus Semien, Jacob deGrom, and Bruce Bochy got to the Lone Star State, and that’s a huge reason why the Rangers are in the situation that they are.
Texas would not be in the position that they are in had CY stepped in and reached for the stars the way that he did. We’ve seen the Rangers outbid teams like the Mets, Dodgers, and Yankees the past two offseasons, a feat that was seemingly unthinkable just a few short offseasons ago.
However, what I’m suggesting is that just as important were those “Dumb Trades” as many fans on Twitter and such called them.
It’s been a painful last six years for the people around this organization; anyone can tell that just by looking at the team’s record in that span.
- 2017 // 78-84
- 2018 // 67-95
- 2019 // 78-84
- 2020 // 22-38
- 2021 // 60-102
- 2022 // 68-94
Flash Forward to 2023, and the Rangers are one of the best teams in baseball to start the season.
Through time, hurt, loss, and frustration, the Rangers have been building a true contender that will last for many years to come.
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