Texas Rangers general manager Chris Young took dramatic action Thursday to shake up his team’s sluggish offense, demoting one of his biggest offseason acquisitions, first baseman Jake Burger.
To replace Burger, the Rangers are promoting Triple-A first baseman Blaine Crim, who is batting .313 with seven homers and a .930 OPS, according to league sources briefed on the move.
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The plan is for Burger to “reset” and rejoin the team soon, one league source said.
Young indicated Tuesday that a shakeup might be imminent, telling the Dallas Morning News, “I’m edgy and rightfully so.”
The Rangers entered Thursday ranked 28th in the majors in runs per game, then lost their series finale at home to the Oakland Athletics, 3-0.
Burger, 29, joined the Rangers last Dec. 11, costing the team three prospects in a trade with the Miami Marlins. Acquired to replace Nathaniel Lowe, whom the Rangers traded to the Washington Nationals, Burger is batting only .190 with a .561 OPS.
Manager Bruce Bochy has altered his lineup in an attempt to ignite the Rangers’ offense, dropping second baseman Marcus Semien out of the leadoff spot and benching Leody Taveras for Kevin Pillar in center field.
Crim, 27, was the Rangers’ 19th-round pick in 2019. He is too old to be considered a top prospect. But earlier in the week, Young warned that he was ready to start looking for alternatives in the minors.
“We have guys going well at Triple A who, if things don’t improve, we obviously will have to consider,” Young told the Morning News. “I can’t run from that. But, at the same time, I believe in this group and their baseball cards. And I believe they are going to turn some of their seasons around. But it’s up to them to do that.”
On Thursday, Young decided he could wait no longer.
(Photo: Steph Chambers / Getty Images)
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