Rangers Trade Rumors

Texas Rangers know their needs, unsure how to fill them
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September 28
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
 
"Everyone seemed to know whom the Texas Rangers were going to target in free agency after the 2007 season. They needed a center fielder, and Ponder resident Torii Hunter appeared to be a perfect fit. While he's readying the postseason and sending in his ring size to the Los Angeles Angels' jeweler, the Rangers might be counting their blessings that Hunter went west and kept them hunting for a difference-maker who turned out to be Josh Hamilton. But that's last off-season's news. A fresh one begins Monday for the Rangers, who will finish with a sub-.500 record for the eighth time in nine seasons. So far, club brass hasn't targeted one impact free agent or any help that could be available in ..."
Bradley deserves a long-term contract
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September 22
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
 columnist Gil Breton
"Milton Bradley poured out his heart last week, as much as the chronically guarded Bradley will allow it. He wants to take care of his mom, he said. He wants to be paid like "one of the elite players in the game." He wants, he said, "a long-term contract." And if the Texas Rangers or anyone else only offer him a one-year deal, Bradley said that he'd be "fed up with baseball" and quit. As the Rangers continue their slow slide toward the season's end, their won-loss record seems destined to betray them. They will likely finish below .500 for the eighth time in nine seasons. But for anyone who watched and followed the way they played before injuries and inconsistent pitching finally betrayed ..."
Texas Rangers don't expect outfielder David Murphy to return this season
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September 16
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
 
"David Murphy is most likely out for the remainder of the season with a strained ligament and bone bruise in his right knee. The Rangers were hoping the outfielder could return in early September after being injured Aug. 6 in a collision with catcher Pudge Rodriguez. "We want to make sure to give him the peace of mind that he's healthy and he doesn't have to worry about anything," manager Ron Washington said. Murphy batted .275 with 28 doubles and 15 homers in 108 games. Before Monday's games, Murphy's 74 RBI were tied for third-most on the club. "I'd like to go into my off-season workouts completely healthy and ready to go," Murphy said. "I've tried to hang on as long as possible but it ..."
Joaquin Benoit could provide relief for Texas Rangers next weekend
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September 14
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
 
"Right-hander Joaquin Benoit said he expects to be ready for a three-game series next weekend against the Angels and pitch again during what has been a frustrating season. He said his shoulder remains stiff and sore, a condition that has plagued him since at least June. He will visit with Dr. Keith Meister early this week in Arlington and possibly have an MRI. Benoit said surgery is not an option that has been discussed as he continues to play long toss in an attempt to loosen up the shoulder muscles. He hasn't pitched since throwing a scoreless inning Sept. 7 against Boston. That was when Benoit noticed the need to pull back. "Sunday was the worst," he said. "When I got in the game I was ..."
Rangers bringing up Nelson Cruz
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August 25
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
 
"Maybe Nelson Cruz is the spark the Rangers need. The Rangers are calling up the outfielder from Oklahoma to replace Jason Ellison, who was designated for assignment. Cruz hit 37 homers in Triple A and added 99 RBI. He likely would have gotten the call sooner but a strained quadriceps sent him to the minor league disabled list. Cruz was a Triple-A All-Star and has shown a keen eye, hitting .342. The question now is where does he fit in. Is he the fourth outfielder or does he take playing time away from Marlon Byrd or Brandon Boggs? We'll have to wait and see on that."
Texas Rangers' Kinsler is feeling better
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August 20
Dallas Morning News
 
"All-Star second baseman Ian Kinsler said Tuesday he will wait two weeks to see how his sports hernia responds before deciding how to proceed. Kinsler visited specialist Dr. John Preskitt on Tuesday at Baylor Medical Center in Dallas and learned he didn't have any torn muscles or ligaments in the groin. "He thinks it's just a strain," Kinsler said. "Just like any other muscle, it's going to take time for it to recover, and it's in a tender spot in your body, so it's obviously going to take a little more time." Kinsler left Sunday's game against Tampa Bay with the injury. For now, the Rangers will use Joaquin Arias and Ramon Vasquez at second base. Kinsler said he felt better Tuesday. "I ..."
Wilson's career with Texas Rangers could draw to a close
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August 7
Dallas Morning News
 columnist Jean-Jacques Taylor
"C.J. Wilson, who won his spring training campaign for the job, will never be the Texas Rangers' closer again. Now, I understand never is a long time, especially in professional sports. But the closer, the most important position in this era of specialization, has to be a guy the manager, players and front office can trust. It's hard to believe Wilson will ever be that guy again for Texas. And that's too bad, because talent isn't his problem. He has plenty of it. This isn't about his quirky personality, because lefties are supposed to be a different breed. This isn't even about that stupid stunt he pulled Tuesday night, when he flipped the ball to Ron Washington and tried to walk off ..."
Wilson sits while his health is questioned
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August 5
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
 
"The two people in Texas Rangers uniforms who would know best said that C.J. Wilson remains the team's closer on the day he wasn't used in that role for the second straight game. Manager Ron Washington and his new pitching coach, Andy Hawkins, said the left-hander will continue to finish games, pronounced confidence in him, and declared him as healthy as any other reliever at this time of the season. But the situation isn't quite as clear as that. Wilson all but said he has been hampered by an injury the past month. A closed-door meeting with Washington and Hawkins determined that Wilson needed to refine his mechanics and might be removed from the closer's role until all is well. Eddie ..."
Liriano may return; Bonser may go
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July 31
Minneapolis Star Tribune
 
"The Twins are exploring potential deals as today's 3 p.m. non-waiver trading deadline approaches, but the biggest move they might make is adding lefthander Francisco Liriano to the major league roster. According to a person with knowledge of trade talks, Liriano could be added to the roster in the next few days. How the Twins would make room for their former phenom remains to be seen. There are indications that the Twins are shopping righthander Boof Bonser in an attempt to create room for Liriano, but the Twins are prepared to resort to other ways to clear a roster spot if they are unable to trade Bonser. There is one report that the Rangers, who are in need of pitching, have inquired ..."
Depth at catcher has teams calling on Texas Rangers
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July 30
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
 
"Gerald Laird is the Texas Rangers' starting catcher, a statement that has been made on a number of occasions the past two seasons but always with a caveat. For now. He entered spring training as the starter, but he had to fend off Jarrod Saltalamacchia until the final week before securing the job. That lasted all of a month before Saltalamacchia forced his way onto the roster with a hot start in Triple A. The solution was to play Laird two days, followed by two for Saltalamacchia. That lasted until June, when Laird pulled a hamstring and went on the disabled list. He came off it Saturday and was handed the starting job for the stretch run. For now. Visit any Web site that tracks rumors as ..."
Hank Blalock's time with the Texas Rangers may be done
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July 30
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
 
"They ran out of time, ran out of hope and ran out of imaginary excuses to protect Hank Blalock's Texas Rangers career Tuesday night. When Blalock revealed before the game that his throwing shoulder has been bothering him since Friday, when the third baseman expressed surprise that it had been announced that he missed Monday's game because of a stomach ache, and when Blalock had to be placed - again - on the disabled list Tuesday, the implications became ominous. No, the veteran won't be getting traded this week in exchange for somebody's hot young pitching prospect. No, carpal tunnel syndrome apparently wasn't the last of Blalock's boundless physical issues. And, yes, most ominously, his ..."
Sabean not ruling out shorter-term solutions
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July 30
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"One potential trade target of the Giants can be scratched off the list for now. According to major-league sources, the Giants were scouting Texas third baseman Hank Blalock, who went on the disabled list with a sore shoulder Tuesday. The Rangers contacted the Giants about Blalock, a 27-year-old with some (but not overwhelming) power. The Rangers covet Giants pitching, including Jonathan Sanchez. Even though that deal will not go down, it raises an interesting point: General manager Brian Sabean has said he is willing to acquire major-league players, not merely sell those he has, if the deal makes sense for the present and future. But what exactly are the Giants building for? Next year? Or ..."
Texas Rangers catcher Gerald Laird's name continues to surface as trade deadline looms
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July 30
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
 
"Gerald Laird is the Texas Rangers' starting catcher, a statement that has been made on a number of occasions the past two seasons but always with a caveat. For now. He entered spring training as the starter, but he had to fend off Jarrod Saltalamacchia until the final week before securing the job. That lasted all of a month before Saltalamacchia forced his way onto the roster with a hot start in Triple A. The solution was to play Laird two days, followed by two for Saltalamacchia. That lasted until June, when Laird pulled a hamstring and went on the disabled list. He came off it Saturday and was handed the starting job for the stretch run. For now. Visit any Web site that tracks rumors as ..."
Marlins' trade targets include catchers, left-handed pitchers
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July 29
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
 
"Facing a potentially lengthy absence for injured starting catcher Matt Treanor, the Marlins have increased their efforts to acquire an established replacement before Thursday's non-waiver trade deadline. According to an industry source familiar with the Marlins' thinking, they have whittled their list of catching trade targets to four names: Bengie Molina (Giants), Ramon Hernandez (Orioles), Gerald Laird (Rangers) and Ryan Doumit (Pirates). Molina and Hernandez are signed for 2009 at fairly sizable sums, which would complicate any trade involving them. Molina is making $6 million this year and next, while Hernandez, who is making $7.5 million this year, is owed $8 million in 2009 and has ..."
Catching is priority as deadline nears
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July 28
Miami Herald
 
"Everything points to the Marlins intensifying their search to add a catcher for the stretch run, because Matt Treanor, who has been on the disabled list since July 8 with a strained left hip, is not ready to return. Marlins manager Fredi Gonzalez said before Sunday's game that Treanor is scheduled to see a specialist Monday in Philadelphia. That news, combined with the fact that the nonwaiver trade deadline is rapidly approaching, means the Marlins will try to pull off a trade this week. With 57 games left, the Marlins want to make sure they have more behind the plate than John Baker and Paul Hoover. The Marlins have talked to teams about catchers, and some of the names that have been ..."
Matt Treanor's setback means Marlins may make move to get a catcher
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July 28
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
 
"The Marlins' need for more catching help before Thursday's trade deadline might have become more acute with a recent setback for Matt Treanor. Out since July 8 with a strained left hip, Treanor will visit Dr. William Meyers, a groin-injury specialist, today in Philadelphia. It was Meyers who diagnosed Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb with a sports hernia in 2005. That surgery ended McNabb's season, which could be a possibility for Treanor if surgery is needed. "We'll see how it goes," Marlins manager Fredi Gonzalez said. "He tried to play through it, but he aggravated it in San Diego." Treanor had been catching bullpen sessions at home in hopes of expediting his return, but the ..."
Texas Rangers less motivated to make a deal this season