Target: Carlos Gonzalez, OF
Type of move: Trade
2012 stats: .303 avg., .371 on-base percentage, 31 doubles, 22 home runs, 85 RBIs, 20 stolen bases, Gold Glove winner in left field.
This one is a bit of a pipe dream, but imagine Carlos Gonzalez's left-handed bat in the middle of the Rangers' lineup for the foreseeable future. Apparently, if you listen to hot stove talk, the Rangers have made contact with the Colorado Rockies about Gonzalez, although there's no telling to what extent.
Gonzalez is a great, great player at age 27, and he's under control through the 2017 season. His dollar figure climbs considerably every year starting next season when he's set to make $7.5 million and ending in 2017 when he's set to earn $20 million at age 31. His best season was in 2010 when he led the NL in hitting with 197 hits and a .336 average. He hit 34 home runs and had 117 RBIs and stole 26 bases that season — both career highs.
Of course, to get Gonzalez, who the Rockies insist is not available, it would take a heck of a package, but he could be the one non-pitcher, possibly joined by Giancarlo Stanton, who the Rangers should consider dealing their two biggest trade chips, Elvis Andrus or Jurickson Profar, for.
