Inbox: How much playing time for Calhoun?

How much playing time is outfielder Willie Calhoun going to get in the 2018 season?
-- Caleb K. Forney, Texas
Much depends on what other moves the Rangers make this offseason. The Rangers seemed determined to give some of their young players an opportunity, with Calhoun high on that list, but that was before reports surfaced that they are possibly interested in free-agent center fielder Lorenzo Cain. If that is the case, then Calhoun will be battling Delino DeShields, Drew Robinson and Ryan Rua for whatever playing time is left over unless the Rangers still pursue another veteran free-agent outfielder.
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It doesn't seem like we have the prospects in the system to make a big trade for controllable young pitching. I don't understand why [general manager] Jon Daniels has traded so much young talent for what seems like rental players.
-- Jeremy M. Tyler, Texas
Because when July rolls around and a team is in contention, there is a great outcry for the front office to make a trade. Not doing so is perceived to be gross negligence by the fans and in the clubhouse, so the pressure is increased. Once the deal is done, there is much self-congratulations over the demonstration of a will to win. Only much later are postmortems conducted as to the wisdom of trading the fourth overall pick in the Draft for a two-month designated hitter.
What would it realistically take to acquire Marlins catcher J.T. Realmuto? A package of Calhoun, catcher Jose Trevino and pitcher Yohander Méndez possibly?
-- Don M. Rowlett, Texas
That would be close in talent to what the Rangers gave up for Jonathan Lucroy. However, any club wanting to do business with the Rangers will no doubt covet outfielder Leody Taveras, who is their top-ranked prospect per MLB Pipeline. Again, it would be a deal that would feel good for the moment and another fan-friendly signal of being all-in while the possible future consequences are set aside for later consideration.

Can the Rangers not afford to sign an ace pitcher? The mid-level pitching that we have signed in the past has not taken us to the level that was hoped. Why will it be different this year?
-- George L. Midlothian, Texas
Yu Darvish and A.J. Griffin are both free agents. The Rangers paid $107 million to sign Darvish six years ago, and he finished with 52 wins in his time in Texas. The Rangers were 68-54 when he started, good for a .557 winning percentage. The Rangers went 24-14 in Griffin's 38 starts over the past two years for a .632 winning percentage. Darvish has far more talent than Griffin, nobody would argue that. Better WHIP, better ERA, better everything else. But…
The best rotation in Rangers history may have been the 2011 version of Derek Holland, Matt Harrison, Alexi Ogando, Colby Lewis and C.J. Wilson. That's two Draft picks (Holland and Wilson), one low-cost free-agent signing (Lewis), one Minor League trade acquisition (Harrison) and one brilliant scouting move (Ogando) in the Minor League Rule 5 Draft. It had nothing to do with big-time spending. By the way, the Rangers had a .672 winning percentage (45-22) in '10-11 when Wilson started. Just saying…

How interested are the Rangers in re-signing Andrew Cashner? While he may not rack up strikeouts, he seems to be an underrated pitcher that did really well in Texas.
-- Carson D. Murphy, Texas
The Rangers remain in contact with Cashner, who seems amenable to a return. But he is understandably also looking for the best contract possible. The strikeouts were low, but the bigger concern were the walks. His 1.34 strikeouts-per-walks ratio was the lowest in the league.
Statcast™ researcher Andrew Simon points out that of the 99 pitchers who generated at least 400 batted balls last season, Cashner posted the 2nd-lowest rate of barrels allowed per batted ball (3.9%), behind only the Giants' Ty Blach (3.7%). That's how he survived in 2017 -- by severely limiting the types of batted balls that tend to do the most damage. That was because of his outstanding sinker, so the wager would be if he can maintain that.