Texas Rangers 25 man roster projected post-trades

The Texas Rangers 25 man roster is going to have some pretty significant changes in the coming days, due to the additions of Carlos Beltran, Jeremy Jeffress and Jonathan Lucroy, and then the anticipated returns of Delino DeShields and Shin-Soo Choo from the disabled list.  So what will things likely look like once all that happens?

I'm going to assume Beltran, Jeffress and Lucroy all report tomorrow, which will mean the Rangers will make their initial set of moves in advance of tomorrow's game.  Lucroy would seem likely to replace Bobby Wilson, who would be a DFA candidate since Texas doesn't need three catchers, and Joey Gallo would be sent down to AAA Round Rock with the addition of Beltran, who would be getting the every day at bats at DH, eliminating playing time for Gallo.

Theoretically, the Rangers could hold onto Wilson for the time being and option Hanser Alberto, with Jurickson Profar being the utility infielder, but I'd think Wilson (and Bryan Holaday, who is currently on the disabled list) end up getting dropped.

As a side note, I've seen a surprising number of people ask why Robinson Chirinos wouldn't get dumped instead of Wilson and/or Holaday.  The answer is because Chirinos is good, and is a nice starting major league catcher.  There's no reason to cut him loose.

As for Jeremy Jeffress, Alex Claudio seems to be the obvious candidate to get optioned to make room for him, though Dario Alvarez could theoretically be sent down.

The more intriguing dilemma comes when Choo and Stubbs return.  This assumes that Stubbs ends up returning rather than being DFA'd once he's activated from the 60 day d.l., and assumes Choo actually returns and is healthy, though both appear to be reasonable assumptions.

Under the above scenario, if we pencil in Profar as your every day left fielder for now, your bench is Robinson Chirinos, Ryan Rua, Delino DeShields and Hanser Alberto.  My guess is that Stubbs would replace DeShields on the active roster, being the backup CF who pinch runs and otherwise rarely plays, and Hanser gets sent down when Choo returns, with Profar resuming UIF roles.

That would leave us with a lineup looking something like this:

Choo -- RF/DH

Desmond -- CF

Beltran -- RF/DH

Beltre -- 3B

Mazara -- LF

Lucroy -- C

Odor -- 2B

Moreland/Rua platoon -- 1B

Elvis -- SS

With a bench of Moreland/Rua platoon guy, Profar, Chirinos, and Stubbs.

Your rotation would be Yu Darvish, Cole Hamels, Martin Perez, A.J. Griffin, and Lucas Harrell (at least until Colby Lewis and/or Derek Holland return), with Sam Dyson, Jake Diekman, Matt Bush, Keone Kela, Jeremy Jeffress, Tony Barnette and Dario Alvarez in the pen.

That's pretty salty.  You'd like a better #3 starter, but that's a strong roster.  And you're in position to have a weaponized bullpen come October...