The Rangers are one of the last clubs to be linked with free agent shortstop Trevor story, by Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News. On the surface, it might seem rather absurd that either the Rangers or the story would maintain a union. The Rangers, after all, have already signed two of the Top Free Agent Shortstops on the market Corey Seager in the Marcus Semien.
But the Rangers now have a hole in the third base, and if Story is really willing to make a change of position and / or a short-term contract, whichever comes later, then Story’s fit in with Texas is actually a lot more smooth as it seems at first glance. Even if the story is not the goal, the Rangers are known to be looking for a third baseman, as far as the recently retired Kyle Seager about the possibility of playing with his younger brother in Texas. Seager the Elder kindly declined the offer, however, per Jon Heyman of the MLB Network (via Twitter).
Beyond Story, there are not many opportunities in the free agency for the Rangers to add a third baseman. The games available – Jed Lowrie, Asdrubal Cabrera, Starlin Castro, Todd Frazier – are veterans who do not necessarily upgrade to Texas internal options. At the moment, the Rangers will set a third base through committee approach, while waiting for the arrival and good health of the prospect Josh Jung. Even if he is injured, Jung’s presence means that the Rangers might only be interested in securing the story if they can do so with a very short-term deal.
Without history, Andy Ibanez, Nick Solakan an Brad Miller are all candidates to get regular playing time in the hot corner. The Rangers have also recently signed on Matt Carpenter in the Charlie Culberson on Small League Deals.
When the Rangers finally sign the story, it would be quite remarkable sequential events, not only because it would mean that a 102-loss team would sign three of the top free agent shortstops in a single offseason, but because of the sequence of events. which led the Rangers into history to a place where that would even be possible.
It was not long before the Rangers had Isiah Kiner-Falefa ready to return to the hot corner to be her regular third baseman. But when the Rangers Kiner-Falefa and the Twins traded for fingers Mitch Garver, The offseason machinations really got into the high gear. Kiner-Falefa has been touted as the Yankees’ choice of shortstop (at least for now), which reopened shortstop in Minnesota, unlikely, for a short-term pact with Carlos Correa. If the story is willing to take a deal similar in style to Correa, the Rangers can come in and be the beneficiary.
Of course, they are not the only team with interest. The Yankees themselves have been linked to history recently, despite their recent acquisition of Kiner-Falefa and Josh Donaldson. The Red Sox are lurking too, but like the Rangers, they would ask the story to move to his favorite position.
Heyman proposed that the Yankees in the Astros “probably has an advantage” in signing the story because it allows him to stay on the shortstop. The Yankees have reportedly discussed a four-year contract with Correa, which includes opt-outs before signing with Minnesota, pro Andy Martino by SNY (via Twitter). A similar contract structure might be enough to roll the story, adopting a more modest AAV. The story will not come cheap, but he will be cheaper than Correa, which seems to foster the interest of the Yankees. All that said, it’s a bit overloaded fit, with Anthony Rizzo now with pencil in the first base, Giancarlo Stanton saved the DH place, on Gleyber TorresKiner-Falefa, and Donaldson already potentially cut in DJ LeMahieuhis playing time.
The Rockies made one last call to the story before pressing Kris Bryant, per The Athletic’s Nick Groke, but that door seems to be closed. From the same division, the Giants are the other team that has been named as potential suites for Story. The Risen have got Brandon Crawford short, Evan Longoria on third, and Tommy La Stella secondly, a trio that certainly makes room for storytelling should be its ultimate landing point.
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