There's no doubt that one of the biggest questions the Texas Rangers have to answer this offseason is what they're going to do with their middle infield logjam that features two proven commodities in Ian Kinsler and Elvis Andrus along with super prospect Jurickson Profar, who played a utility role with the Rangers in 2013 at age 20.
Many people seem to be assuming that the Rangers will simply move Kinsler to first base or to left field — two positions the Rangers are looking to upgrade in 2014. But don't be so sure about that because it's not that simple.
Kinsler, despite the occasional head-scratching error, is a gold-glove caliber second baseman and has never played first base or the outfield. Plus, his offensive production is much more valuable at second base than at either of those other positions.
Kinsler also happens to be great friends with former Rangers Mr. Everything Michael Young and he saw how Young was jerked around by the organization, depending on how you see it, by being moved from second, to shortstop, to third base and then to a DH/utility role. Kinsler doesn't want the same fate.
Rangers manager Ron Washington addressed the situation last week while visiting with Norm Hitzges on KTCK The Ticket.
“Right now, that’s a tough question for me to answer," Washington said. "Right now, we have an all-star at second base, and he means a lot to our club. He means a lot to our organization, and I think if anything like that were to materialize, the first person who should know about that is Ian Kinsler, and I don’t think I should be talking about what Ian Kinsler should be doing, or if he’s switching positions or not.”
