How many games/ABs would Profar need at the ML level to justify keeping him here? I don't know how he hits as a RHB versus LHB, but I wonder if Kinsler playing 1B against lefties wouldn't be an interesting platoon option. Play Kinsler 45-50 games at 1B against lefties and have Profar start those games at 2B. Play Kinsler and Elvis 140 games each (barring injury), and Profar nets 90-100 games this season, barring injury. You solve the backup MIF problem (not sure how big that problem was) and evaluate your untradeable prospect at the ML level. Plus, you save Moreland having to hit lefties.

Just a thought.

The case in point with Perez is that he was being labeled a TORP before he even had success at the most crucial level, AA.
Martin is still the same pitcher that almost everyone now want to be toss in for a Stanton or Upton trade without an inkling of how much adjustments he can make at his current level, the Big Show. I can see those who jumped on the bandwagon and then just as fast jumped off, will return when MP becomes the second coming of Johan Santana who he was initially compared too. By the way after his second season with the Twins, Santana sat at 3-3 with a 5.9 era. It does take talent and knowledge to be successful. Talent is there are not, and is geometrically measurable. Knowledge comes with responses and adjustments to the flow of the game itself. Perez has the talent, this year he needs a chance to evolve that knowledge. This is true about any prospect, they are prospects until they prove otherwise, so are they a Mike Trout or a Ruben Mateo. Only playing the game will tell, which may be the biggest explanation for going with Perez, Ross as a left-handed version of Greg Maddux, Scheppers, Kirkman, Garcia, Martin, Olt and Profar as a core of the team. Currently, with talk of signing Bourn and Lohse, after Berkman and Pierzynski, the Rangers Season Plan is the opposite.

Martin Perez=Johan Santana. YOU WISH. Does the name Thomas Diamond ring a bell?

Perez is a very similar to Santana, with a plus fastball and a plus-plus changeup.

He's 21 years old. Give him time.

Trade him while he still has "some" value.

Dave Cameron, a voice I trust more than most of the internet and beat writer crowd, was asked to spitball what sort of package the Marlins would consider for the Rangers to obtain Stanton and his answer was: Olt, Profar, L. Martin, Harrison and Holland. Yikes, given that I am happy to hold onto prospects to be honest and can see why Rangers FO would come to same conclusion.

"Dave Cameron was asked what the Marlins would consider for the Rangers to obtain Stanton and his answer was: Olt, Profar, L. Martin, Harrison and Holland."

I can understand why the Marlins would want a package like that if they're going to let go of Stanton while he's still a bargain contract. I can't imagine that they'd get a return of that caliber for him (from anyone, now or later).

@DDan, a 19-year-old needs to be playing every day. Profar's game is not perfect yet, no matter what the rabid prospect lovers might tell you. He needs exposure to all types of pitching and all types of game situations to continue to improve, and playing part-time in the majors so Kinsler can platoon at first base will not accomplish that.

Maybe, just maybe, other clubs aren't offering JD the perceived value of what the organization thinks Olt & Profar & Perez are worth. Scream "small sample size!!" all you want, none of them helped their value at the major league level last year. If the return coming back the other way isn't what you want, you keep the players. If Olt & Profar have to spend this year in AAA, well too bad for them. While I think Profar will produce immediately, nobody knows what Olt is at the major league level.

Who's got the gun to our head to do something this minute?

I'm cool with Profar staying down while the team gains an extra year of control.

However, at that point (assuming no trades are made), the team must decide which option is more beneficial:

1. Kinsler (2B) + Moreland (1B)
2. Profar (2B) + Kinsler (1B)

I tend to believe that #2 is a better option with a significantly higher ceiling.

A measure of success in the Majors is success at AA. Garcia [who I also include as high level potential major league prospect], Olt and Profar all had high success at AA. Can they, along with Perez, benefit from AAA play?
YES. Can they play regularly in the Majors right now? YES. AND that is the conundrum facing the Rangers. But who is to say that they are not being treated by the Rangers like Trout was last year.. He was not on the Angels 25 on Opening Day 2012. So May or June could be arrival time. Profar did not bat for AA more than .300 [ a solid .281, but not Mike Trout AAA numbers]; Olt showed great power at AA, but did K 101 in 354 at bats; Garcia, the Rangers want to convert to center field, turn him into a Michael Bourn, and that takes playing time at AA or AAA; and Perez could benefit from more AAA seasoning. He was only okay at that level. Would I like to see them all on the Rangers 25? YES. BUT they all could possibly benefit from additional seasoning if only a month or two.

@Samson
Yankees didn't trade much. They had a MLB farm named the KC A's.
Roger Maris, for one, came via MLB KC. Just snapped thier fingers to get a player!

Sometimes that can backfire. Was not the ORIOLES to the Rangers their KC ATHLETICS. And look what happened in 2012.

Leury Garcia is not a major prospect. He profiles as a utility infielder.

Eric Reining doesn't profile to be a major commenter. Maybe he can be a utility commenter

Hey! So long as the pay's the same? I'm up!

Give Little Leury time!!! ALSO, ask the Giants what they think of a particular 'UTILITY PLAYER'; and MY was collecting a cool $16m a year to play that position the last two seasons.

Leury Garcia is not Michael Young, and he is not Marco Scutaro. He's a burner with a good glove, a light stick, and no plate discipline. He's also behind Andrus, Profar, Kinsler and Sardinas on the ceiling curve. And probably Hanser Alberto. That's five infielders. How many infielders do you need?

He's also 22. Get more original when discussing prospects. Just because you've heard of them doesn't mean he's better than other guys.

You tell em eric reining. But do you have to be so condescending?

Eric you have selective reading. Why compare Garcia to infielders when he will be converted to a centerfielder. The comparison even the Rangers are interested in now is to Michael Bourn. I agree that the Rangers are loaded in the infield, and it goes as deep as Hickory. I have enjoyed reading your insightful, informative posts even after I read so many personal diatribes hurled in your direction. But when you post "just because you have heard of them" it does not support your previous allocations. I know nothing of your personal background nor you mine. For all I know you have scouted all levels of Rangers major and minor league systems, even spending time In the Dominican Republic. So with that level of knowledge, personal comments that is not reflective of the present topic is a bit insignificant if not moronic. I expect much better of you, stick to the vast knowledge you know about, not what you do not know of.

u gonna take that eric?

You want some ice for that burn?

utb,

what you said. if we're going to keep olt, maybe he and moreland can platoon and you can put kins in the OF. i'd rather see olt packaged for an outfielder or pitching.

DDAN in 'Can Kinsler be platooned' had an excellent post on that very point of platooning, and getting Profar playing time. A continual hypothesis to that on Olt would place him more in backing Beltre, and what the Rangers tried last year, and the Angels did with Trumbo [a first baseman who they tried at third [not as easy a conversion[, moved him to a corner outfield], move him to a corner outfield and platoon with Murphy particularly in a right -handed bat emphasized lineup.

@ Andrew

I agree with you - a platoon of Moreland/Olt at 1B would be ideal (assuming no trades are made); however, I'm not sure having multiple platoon positions (CF and 1B) would work from a roster management perspective. Texas will obviously have to carry a backup catcher and a backup MIF.

It all depends on how many pitchers the team carries.