DALLAS (105.3 The Fan) - The Rangers made a big move on Tuesday when they announced that Elvis Andrus will no longer be the club's starting shortstop, and instead, will be asked to play multiple positions next season.
The man who will replace Andrus is 2020 Gold Glove winner Isiah Kiner-Falefa, who will shift from third base to short.
But what about Rougned Odor?
105.3 The Fan's Jared Sandler listened in on the conversation Rangers general manager and president of baseball operations Jon Daniels had with the media Tuesday, and he says that there will be a competition at second base between Odor and Nick Solak.
As for who has the edge heading into spring training, Sandler says it's Solak.
"Rougie can win second but it seems like they really want Solak to compete there. And, while, they didn't think his time in the outfield was so bad that he can't go back to it - I think they look at the roster right now and feel like his best fit is at second," Sandler said on the G-Bag Nation. "Now, their question with Nick is, defensively, can he do it? Obviously, when you look at where Nick Solak and Odor are from an offensive standpoint, Solak has provided way more consistency, way more reliability offensively. (So) he has the leg-up there. The question is - can he play second base well enough to be an everyday second baseman? That doesn't mean he's got to be better than Rougie at second. And it's not like Rougie is an all-world defensive second baseman, either. But, there have been some questions. And, frankly, when we've seen Nick Solak at second, up to this point, it's been a little rough around the edges. But, there's athleticism there, that baseball instinct where I think they feel like, with a true commitment to that position and not moving around (all over the field) that there could be progress enough for him to win that spot."