The Texas Rangers will most likely be without the services of third baseman Michael Young for as long as two to three weeks due to a strained left hamstring.

Additionally, they may have lost outfielder Josh Hamilton for an undetermined amount of time due to a pinched nerve in his back.

Evan Grant of Dallas Sports speculates that the Texas Rangers may look to acquire a third baseman even though he would not be eligible for post season play. He writes,

With Michael Young out for at least two weeks, manager Ron Washington said he plans to alternate INFs Omar Vizquel and Esteban German at third base. But there is another option to fill the hole created by Young’s hamstring injury: A trade.

Though any player acquired would not be eligible for the playoffs, if the Rangers qualify, the club can still make a deal to help it get to the playoffs. The Rangers are weighing the pros and cons of making a September trade. The biggest decision is whether getting a player who may only play regularly for two or three weeks is worth the price in whatever prospect or prospects the Rangers would have to surrender. The Rangers expect Young to be back before the playoffs begin.

Grant believes that the Mets’ Fernando Tatis, is one of three ideal options for the Rangers, with Garrett Atkins and Melvin Mora rounding out his choices. Tatis, in his opinion makes sense because he earns the least of the three and because it would be a homecoming of sorts for Tatis who began his career in Texas.

Tatis was once considered the pride of the Rangers farm system and made his debut in 1997 at the age of 22 and was part of the deal that brought the Rangers Todd Stottlemyre and Royce Clayton at the trade deadline in 1998. He had at 34-homer season in 1999, but has never come close to reaching that potential again. He entered Wednesday hitting .263 with a .324 OBP and .425 slugging average. His chief advantage is that he is the cheapest of the three. There is only about $300,000 remaining on his $1.7 million contract and he can be a free agent after this season.

I think it would make perfect sense for the Mets to see what they can get for Tatis…

With David Wright back and playing third base everyday, Daniel Murphy firmly entrenched at first base, and the imminent return of Carlos Beltran who would move Angel Pagan over to leftfield, why not see what we can get for Tatis, even if it’s just a fringe prospect?

Then, after we trade him, maybe we can shelve the number 17 until next season when we can finally retire it and give that number the respect it deserves.