@Profar

You stated the Home/Splits of IK are drastically skewed. While you can't argue with the facts of that, I would argue that you will never see IK benched on the road making him a platoon player. Not by Joe Maddon's standards either!!! There are so many reasons not to do it isn't even funny.

This is a great site and I appreciate all the comments, but too many people on here are all caught up with the numbers and you have to remember there is way more to it than WAR and Home/Road Spilts.

For instance, you take an everyday player like IK and tell him that based on last years numbers he will be platooning and only playing the majority of his games at home. You have just lost IK mentally and physically. His numbers would probably suffer at home as well. Why? He is pissed as all get out and lost his drive. Secondly, you are taking away half of his at bats. Do you realize how important it is to get at bats consistantly? Not saying you can't give him some rest when he isn't hitting well or make his days off on the road. Take the numbers for what they are, but also take into consideration that it isn't all about the numbers.

I don't see any rationale in your suggestion of sitting Kinlser on the bench when he isn't at home. It really sounds as though, you just don't like Kinsler.

@Mansfield: Ian was an excellent leadoff hitter in 2011, not so much in 2012. Also, his defense in 2011 was elite, but not so much in 2012. Whether or not he's better than Profar defensively, and a good leadoff hitter, depends on his ability to bounce back.

@Andy
I agree with you on him being better in 2011 as a leadoff vs this past year! i would like to see him bounce back. As for the defense......Profar and Kinsler aren't even close!!!! Profar would run cirlcles around him defensively at 2nd. That is why I think it makes sense for the Rangers to move IK off of second. He still has A TON of value on this team and he is still our best leadoff hitter on the roster at this point.

Mansfield Mash...No you are flat wrong. I REALLY like Ian Kinsler. When he plays in Arlington. He's a HOF second baseman when he plays at home.

And I really don't like Ian Kinsler when he plays on the road. That guy...he sucks...and I hate seeing him come to the plate for one more sucky at-bat after another.

As per his psyche. If he's that fragile I don't want him on my team. And I mean that. I don't go in for all this entitlement. That's just Michael Young Part II. This team needs to put an end to all that BS. (Is Wash helping foster this shit?)

Joe Maddon absolutely would have a plan other than leading off with a .611 OPS. (Ian's road production)

Name me one everyday player that would be OK with the manager saying "Moving forward you will only be playing home games." It isn't a matter of him being fragile at all. He is a competitor and you just took that competitiveness away from him. Fragile, NO!!! Pissed off as Hell, YES!!!!

His offense would suffer at home if you made this decision because any hitter will tell you the more pitches they see the better off they are. Plain and simple!!!!

Also, I would argue that every single major leaguer would not except what you are proposing. We aren't dealing with little leaguers here. We are dealing with people that this is their career. Zero, None, Nada, Nobody wants to play for a team that says you are a part time player when you could play everyday for another team. So yes he would be pissed. Yes, IK just signed a long term deal so he doesn't have to worry about his next contract for a while (do you really believe the Rangers would have signed him to that deal to play part time....another topic). You stated you don't want people like MY (fragile) on your team.....You my firend would be creating the same situation with IK as you had with MY. Then you would probably be the one bitching about IK not being a team player.

If you do indeed like IK, I would hate to see how you would treat people you don't like. Certainly glad you are not making the decisions for our Texas Rangers. Based on your ridiculous statement, I am guessing you want to have an 8 man pitching rotation for those that pitch well on the road vs at home. Good gracious, not even sure why I entertain such nonsense.

I'm out!!

Profar should season at AAA until at least the All-Star break. If Profar is performing then bring him up for the 2nd half as a UIF, bench bat, pinch runner, Next offseason is when it will be time to make a decision on positional moves, etc.

There will still be a market for Elvis, even with only one year of control left, if that is the direction you want to go. Plus, Nelson is off the books after the season, so the idea of Ian to COF with Profar at 2B is still a viable option. By 2014, one of the younger prospects (Garcia?) will be ready to take a MIF position, Elvis can go if we can't afford him and we'll still have at least a respectable DP combo.

I agree with Mansfield Mash here. Moving players (when you do) is completely based on what's in your own organization, not what is considered "prototypical" in terms of the position. Kinsler wouldn't be an amazing LF or 1B, I think we can all agree on that here. The difference is making room for players within our organization.

On the idea of telling Kinsler he's only going to largely play at home isn't a good one. I dont even think Joe Maddon does that. It doesn't sound like you've ever played on a sports team (you could have, idk, it's the internet). I can tell you that if you sit one of these guys who has been playing everyday for years, he's not going to take kindly to it. That doesn't make him "fragile". It makes him a competitor.

What Joe Maddon does the best is balance his numbers with managing people. Joe Girardi does the same thing (hey, we might wanna hire a guy named Joe for our next manager). Yes, home/road splits are drastic with Kinsler. But neither of those managers sits Kinsler even half of the road games. They will probably save his days off for road games, but making Kinsler a platoon player? The guy would start at over half of all Major League clubs, pure and simple. You don't sit a guy who could look over to another team (contenders even) and say "wow so I just signed a huge contract extension to be a platoon player". It's just not going to happen.

Just my two cents worth I suppose.

Also, if you think Joe Maddon is the God of all managers, you might consider becoming a Rays fan....

Baseball has long now embraced platooning based on match-ups. And the more saber friendly managers tend to embrace platooning more liberally.

I never said I'd strictly bench IK on the road. I'd absolutely and emphatically platoon him (L/R) when on the road. And I'd never have him leading off when away from Arlington.

If you can't grasp the concept, MM...or if you think Ian is somehow above it...maybe this thread is beyond you.

My thought on the original post is that, yes, Olt would platoon at 1B and backup 3B this year (likely playing more 3B beyond 2013). He's incredibly valuable at this point if you assume Kinsler WON'T play 1B. If Ian does play 1B, Olt's probably high atop the trade block.

Kinsler as a 1B? Eh, I'm lukewarm. I think he'd have tremendous range and would stay more "in the game" at 1B, but (as Profar mentioned) his height and wingspan doesn't leave much wiggle room on throws from the infield. He certainly wouldn't be the typical offensive 1B, either...unless perhaps you moved him down in the lineup and changed his offensive job description a bit.

I don't lead off with a guy hitting .611 OPS. And I platoon him amply. Do I expect RW to heed my advice? Not in a bazillion years.

Young needed his playing time curtailed last season...irrespective of salary and sentiment. Most logical fans on this site agreed with that...and shouted for it. But Ian's road numbers are worse worse than Young's numbers last season.

For the record...since you inquired...I've played as much (very possibly more) team sports than you, V V.

"Profar would run cirlcles around him defensively at 2nd."

Kinsler had a UZR of 15 in 2011 and 10 in 2009. That was good for 5th best in MLB (all positions, not 2B) in 2011, and 20th in 2009. If you expect him to bounce back, there's no reason to think Profar would "run circles around him" just because he's younger or whatever.

I don't expect him to have a UZR of 15 again (even Beltre has only done that 4 times) but I expect he could do better than he did this year; enough that I wouldn't move him off 2B just for defensive reasons.

Yes I suppose this thread is beyond everybody but you and Joe Maddon!!

@Andy
I understand and appreciate the facts. I am basing the defensive analysis on what I saw last year from both. Last year Kinsler looked (to me) like he has lost a step when going to his right or left for a ball. He actually had trouble making these plays. IMO, your middle infielders (and CF) need to be able to cover a lot of ground. I simply think Profar would be a large upgrade in that department and would lead to runs saved over the course of a season. I am not factoring in routine plays, as I think both guys can do that. Just my opinion and I certainly see where you are coming from.

A whole lot of First Base ABs will be distributed elsewhere, that is for sure. Either Moreland is going to get a full shot or there is something else at play for sure.

I was on the leading wave of those calling for the Rangers to ship Young out. And I'll be on the leading edge again in saying this: We will either trade Ian...or he will be a utility player within 2 seasons.

If not...he'll be in the same class as Young: a guy that gets talked about at FanGraphs with the same question, "What is Ron Washington thinking?"

I was adamantly opposed to the extension JD gave him. IK will never live up to 2/3 of that contract. How can you be a great player and not be able to produce in any park but your own?

If we keep Profar and Elvis both...then immediately...Kinsler should be platooned.

I'm going to get back to talking about Olt...so this (hopefully) will be my last word on the topic of Kinsler:

In the short term--certainly for 2013--I'd be fine if we were Profar/Kinsler up the middle. I don't see a problem with Ian's defense.