MLB

Fielder-Kinsler swap may put Rangers in running for Cano

Yankees officials have played a game in recent months trying to imagine who could make a blockbuster offer to Robinson Cano, and have eliminated pretty much every possibility. The one consistent worry has been the Rangers and, perhaps, Texas moved into a better position to make such a play.

Texas sent its second baseman, Ian Kinsler, to Detroit for Prince Fielder. The deal was finalized Wednesday night when Bud Selig approved Texas receiving $30 million from the Tigers to offset some of the seven years at $168 million left on Fielder’s deal. Plus, the Rangers move the four years at $62 million owed Kinsler.

Thus, Texas, which was expected to be big-game hunters this offseason, will still have the finances to make a major splash. The most likely move now for Texas would be to insert Jurickson Profar at second and look to further bolster the offense with a free-agent signing such as Carlos Beltran or Brian McCann, both Yankee targets, too.

But with shortstops in demand, Texas could use Profar or Elvis Andrus to, say, front a trade to Tampa Bay for David Price or to secure power pitching from St. Louis. That would open second base and a potential pursuit of Cano.

Here are a few other thoughts:

  • By moving most, if not all, of Fielder’s deal, Detroit potentially clears the payroll space to sign Cy Young winner Max Scherzer long-term. The Tigers had pondered dealing Scherzer because he is a free agent after next season and already had Fielder, Justin Verlander and Miguel Cabrera signed for more than $20 million. Cabrera is a free agent after the 2015 campaign, so it is possible this makes it easier for Detroit to commit to him on another multi-year contract, as well.
  • The removal of Fielder allows Detroit to move Cabrera back to first base, which should better preserve his body. The Tigers now could play top prospect Nick Castellanos at third or maybe even consider re-signing free agent Jhonny Peralta and asking him to shift from short to third.
  • Texas had eyes on Fielder as a free agent two offseasons ago. Now the Rangers get him, but coming off career lows of 25 homers and an .819 OPS. Plus, he was terrible in the postseason (9-for-40, 0 RBIs). But he did go through a messy divorce last offseason and doesn’t turn 30 until May, so he has rebound possibility.