The latest installment of #EvanHelpUs...

#EvanHelpUs. What have we netted in the trades we have have made thus far, including any PTBNL? — AntiNephiliM (@Adelias67) August 20, 2018

ME: In total, the Rangers acquired eight players for the quartet of Jesse Chavez (to the Cubs), Cole Hamels (Cubs), Keone Kela (Pittsburgh) and Jake Diekman (Arizona). Six of them are pitchers.

The roll call: Pitcher Tyler Thomas for Chavez; pitchers Rollie Lacy, Eddie Butler and outfielder Alexander Ovalles (the PTBNL) for Hamels and cash; pitcher Taylor Hearn and third baseman Sherten Apostel (the PTBNL) for Kela; pitchers Wei-Chieh Huang and Joshua Javier (the PTBNL) for Diekman.

One other thing to note about the July trades: The Rangers agreed to send the Cubs about $9 million in the Hamels deal, but only $3 million of that is guaranteed. If the Cubs pick up Hamels' option for 2019, the Rangers would then not be obligated for the $6 million equivalent of his contract buyout. Chances the Cubs pick up the option are slim, but growing with each sharp start.

If you go back to July 1, the Rangers have acquired 13 pitchers in trades, waiver claims and minor league signings of experienced big leaguers. It's a significant increase in inventory. If they were to get two pitchers out of their pitching-heavy draft class and two pitchers from this trade group, well, that's a huge haul from one summer.

With young bats proving themselves, Are the rangers willing to spend big money this off season on starting pitching? #EvanHelpUs — Jake (@klassickliev) August 19, 2018

ME: They shouldn't be. Because you can't fix a rotation with this many holes in one offseason. At this moment, there is one starter who can be counted for 2019: Mike Minor. In a championship rotation, he's probably a No. 4. So, now you need a 1-2-3 and then you either go with Martin Perez, Ariel Jurado or Yohander Mendez in the No. 5 spot. However you go, you probably are operating from a deficit there.

Are there a 1-3 even available on the free agent market? I don't think Clayton Kershaw is going to opt out of his deal in Los Angeles, but, if he does, the Rangers better be willing to pay a guy with a balky back in excess of $30 million per year to come home. The best of the rest: Patrick Corbin, Dallas Keuchel, Drew Pomeranz and Gio Gonzalez. You'd have to corner the market on starting pitching this winter, have all of them have healthy, productive years and that's not even beginning to address the bullpen. Or the lack of upper level pitching depth in the minor league system. So, my answer would be a resounding "no."

The way to long-term success is to build a homegrown, young affordable nucleus of starting pitching. That takes time. It simply can't be done over a single offseason. The Rangers are not in position to make that huge gamble.

How about handicapping the odds of former Rangers pitchers coming back next year (Holland, Hamels. etc..)?#evanhelpus — Bearkat76 (@Imabearkat76) August 19, 2018

ME: My approach to free agent pitching this winter would be this: Go after 30-and-under non-tenders. Be willing to pay a bit of a premium to get them on two-year deals. Then be willing to trade them at the deadline for a better return. Is there some risk involved? Yeah. But the likes of Sonny Gray (the prototype around which I base this model) offers a heck of a lot more potential upside then bringing back 30-somethings like Holland, Yovani Gallardo or a 40-something like Bartolo Colon. And Hamels? Hamels is going to cost in excess of $15 million. I would not recommend paying $15 million or more on a multi-year deal for a 35-year-old pitcher.

So, if you want a reunion, here are my best reunion chances: Drew Pomeranz, who the Rangers drafted, but did not sign in 2007, and reliever Jake Diekman, who really, really enjoyed his time here.

What’s the future of Beltre? Will he return? Retire? Profar 3rd? #baseballsunday #EvanHelpUs — Jason A. Wheeler (@WheelerCFB) August 19, 2018

ME: Adrian Beltre sounds more and more contemplative of retirement and his third hamstring injury of the year is only going to further increase that possibility. I still think there is a slightly better than 50 percent that Beltre decides to play another year.

I still think it makes the most sense for the Rangers to explore the possibilities of trading Profar this winter. He's only under control for two more years and he's regained value. Given a chance to play every day around the infield, I think he could be a really valuable super utility guy to an NL club. And the free agent on the horizon that I'd be most interested in is Colorado third baseman Nolan Arenado, who is free after 2019. He'd be the next generation Beltre.

Now, I could also see the Rangers holding on to Profar. And, if so, things become a little more complicated with Beltre. If you are the Rangers, you might start to run out of at-bats with Beltre, Profar, Kiner-Falefa and Choo to split up third base and DH. If you move Choo, then Beltre becomes the primary DH and things are solved. If you can't move Choo, then things become a little bit more awkward. If you decide that, well, there really isn't room for Beltre and he does decide he wants to play, that could be awkward.

But I think I'm getting ahead of myself here. Based on the relationship between Beltre and Jon Daniels, I think the two will be able to work something out that works for both parties.

Any updates as to Round Rock status as Rangers AAA TEAM next year Ask #EvanHelpUs https://t.co/OZAtve8Q4c — Robert Bailey (@tombeetle70) August 19, 2018

ME: There is no official update and won't be one until after September 1 when teams can officially start negotiating their minor league affiliations. But let's put it this way: The Rangers aren't going back to Round Rock. It's going to become a Houston affiliate. Unless for some reason Reid Ryan and Jim Crane have a huge falling out in the next two weeks and the Ryan family breaks off from the Astros. That is not going to happen.

Here's what is going to happen: The Rangers will almost certainly go to San Antonio, which will have Triple-A baseball in 2018. The Colorado Springs franchise is relocating there and the Double-A franchise in San Antonio is going to Amarillo. San Antonio is a perfect spot for the Rangers to relocate to from a marketing standpoint. And marketing a significant element here. It's so significant, it probably outweighs the fact that San Antonio's stadium and facility are subpar. It will probably be the worst Triple-A facility in the country.

The other option would be Nashville, which is currently an Oakland affiliate. But with Houston relocating from Fresno to Round Rock, I expect Oakland to go to Fresno. That would leave Nashville open and it would make sense for Milwaukee, currently in Colorado Springs, to move to Nashville. The Brewers had a long previous relationship with Nashville.

Who is the emergency third catcher right now? #EvanHelpUs — Keith Irwin (@gbkeith) August 19, 2018

ME: Almost always, it's the backup infielder. Except that in the Rangers' case, the backup infielder (Isiah Kiner-Falefa) is also the backup catcher. On the active roster, at the moment, it would probably be, in theory, Jurickson Profar. But since Adrian Beltre currently isn't capable of playing third base, Profar is playing third base. If both Chirinos and Kiner-Falefa were hurt or ejected in the same game, Profar would probably move behind the plate, Gallo to third and then Drew Robinson to left. The other possibility would be to just move Robinson to catcher because no matter what you do, it would not be pretty.

Unlike position players pitching, trust me, this is not a situation you would like to see take place in real life.

Oh, and in a week, when rosters can be expanded, the Rangers could add a third catcher with actual catching chops, though, at the moment they don't have another active actual catcher on the 40-man roster (Jose Trevino is out for the year).

#EvanHelpUs who’s your favorite non-lead character from The Peanuts? — jason (@ArtOfJason) August 19, 2018

ME: This is a toss-up for me. I lean towards Pig Pen because I can't eat a meal that involves anything resembling a sauce without a spot of said sauce ending up on my clothing. But, if you add in the animated specials, I also have an affinity for any off-camera adult because I feel like this is exactly how my voice sounds to just about everybody on the planet.

When will we see players slide on tarps during rain delays again? #EvanHelpUs — Kenny Howard (@1FortyOne) August 19, 2018

ME: The last time for the Rangers did it, I believe, was on May 9, 2012 during a rain delay (that eventually became a postponement) at Baltimore. Josh Hamilton led the charge of Rangers on to the field for the slip-and-slide. The night before, he had hit four homers.

So, the next time a Ranger hits four homers in a game, I'd expect the ol' slip-and-slide the next day.

Also, after 2019, if they do it, it's going to have to be on the road. Because there won't be any more rain delays in Arlington.