The Rangers are interested in Ryan Garko and Rocco Baldelli, according to ESPN.com's Jerry Crasnick. Rangers GM Jon Daniels said in an EPSN.com chat yesterday that "some interesting guys" remain on the market. Jermaine Dye, who was connected to the Rangers earlier in the offseason, seems less likely to end up in Texas than Garko or Baldelli.
Garko, 29, hit .268/.344/.421 last year with the Indians and Giants. He's been an average defender at first over the course of the last two seasons, and he's played some outfield. As MLB.com's T.R. Sullivan reminds us, the Rangers were in the mix for Garko last summer. The Orioles had been linked to Garko earlier in the winter, but that was before they signed Miguel Tejada and Garrett Atkins.
The Rangers could pursue Baldelli if they're looking for more outfield experience. Baldelli has mostly played center, but he has experience in left and right, too. The 28-year-old hit .253/.311/.433 last year for the Red Sox.
Garko seems like a nice fit!
they have C. Davis and J. Smoak…Garko is a below average first baseman in everyway, except hitting for average…he’d kind of just be useless… wouldn’t he?
Garko also can play LF and RF along with 1st as he did with Cleveland before being dealt to the Giants. He is younger than Dye and more reliable than Baldelli. Not sure if they would add Dye either with Vlad already there.. my reasoning behind why IMO Garko out of the 3 would be a potential fit. Dye will most likely get a more full time gig.
Davis struggles against LHP, and Garko kills LHP. Seems like a perfect fit.