Keep an eye on Nationals' talks with Rangers

NASHVILLE - If the Nationals are willing to deal Stephen Strasburg - and all indications are that they are at least open to discussions, with the right-hander one season away from free agency - keep an eye on the Rangers as a possible trade partner.

Texas had interest in Strasburg last offseason, though the Nationals were content to see how strong their rotation could be with the eventual addition of righty Max Scherzer via free agency. The teams talked extensively at the Winter Meetings in San Diego, eventually hammering out a deal sending two minor leaguers to Washington in exchange for left-hander Ross Detwiler.

But in discussions last winter, the Nationals were trying to pry a young infielder away from the Rangers. Mind you, this was before the three-way trade that landed the Nats righty Joe Ross and shortstop Trea Turner. But two of the most mentioned names in terms of Nationals targets were second baseman Rougned Odor and shortstop Jurickson Profar.

The talks about Odor went nowhere in a hurry, and the 21-year-old Venezuelan had a strong second half, slashing .273/.313/.520, and was one of the Rangers' better postseason performers with a .278/.381/.500 line. He's cemented as the team's second baseman heading into 2016, barring injury or a terrible spring.

Profar, 22, reached the majors for 94 games in 2012-13 before sustaining and then re-aggravating a serious shoulder injury that has kept him from playing for two seasons. In the meantime, Odor ascended to second base - which would have been Profar's position - and the Rangers traded for slugging first baseman/designated hitter Prince Fielder.

Though he excelled in this year's Arizona Fall League - slashing .267/.352/.453 with 20 RBIs and winning acclaim as the AFL's top DH - Profar may be a man without a position in Texas. Fielder serves mostly as the DH, Odor is at second and Elvis Andrus is entrenched at shortstop, having played only one season of an eight-year, $120 million extension.

Profar played some third base for the Rangers in 2013, but that position is manned at least through 2016 by Adrian Beltre - and top prospect Joey Gallo, a slugger who is running out of minor league challenges, is waiting in the wings as his successor.

Assuming Profar is healthy enough to contribute in 2016, the Rangers are left with two choices: farm him out, using one of two minor league options the native of Curacao has remaining, and stash him as an insurance policy, or deal him and try to get something of value for him.

Profar won't be arbitration-eligible until next offseason and doesn't reach free agency until 2020, so he's attractive as a player who could remain under team control. His agent is Scott Boras, who has an established track record of dealing effectively with both general manager Mike Rizzo and the Lerners, who own the Nationals.

While some GMs are looking at Profar as a buy-low candidate because of his injury history and lack of major league experience, it's expected the Rangers will counter that he's a former top prospect in the game as recently as 2012. It won't be easy to get him without giving up something of substance.

Trading Strasburg would carry its own set of negatives, not the least of which being the fact that the Nats have already lost starting pitchers Jordan Zimmermann and Doug Fister to free agency. But the Rangers are down a starting pitcher after Yovani Gallaro decided to test free agency. Any deal involving Strasburg would not be a straight-up swap - there would be multiple pieces involved.

With Anthony Rendon slated to return to third base full-time, Profar could be used at either second base or shortstop. Profar could provide a solution at second base (moving Danny Espinosa to the utility infield role) or give Turner more time to develop in the minors. His acquisition would also make it easier for the Nationals to spin infielder Yunel Escobar off, possibly for a bullpen piece.