The Rangers are looking to acquire a backup corner infielder before Opening Day, writes Jim Reeves of ESPN.com. Manager Ron Washington had hoped that one of the club's young players – such as Matt Brown or Max Ramirez – would step up to fill the role, but that has not happened.
One Rangers source said that the team keeps coming back to Boston's Mike Lowell. The same source indicated that Texas believes that they can basically get Lowell for the same player they agreed to deal over the winter, Max Ramirez.
Kevin Millar is also on the Rangers' watch list, though he may earn himself a bench spot with the Cubs. Wes Helms of the Marlins and Fernando Tatis of the Mets could also fit the bill as corner infielders off of the bench. Meanwhile, "super-utility" players like Houston's Geoff Blum and Kansas City's Willie Bloomquist are likely too rich for Texas' blood.
Why not Ty Wigginton? He can fill in at 1B, 3B, and 2B in a pinch and he has significant pop.
Ramon Vazquez 😉
Doug Mientkiewicz?
I actually think that would be a really good fit
Yay. He may even put up a decent offensive line at Arlington. Otherwise, what more could you want from a backup infielder? He’s probably an upgrade defensively over Davis/Young, but I could be talking out my ass there since I didn’t bother to check any defensive metrics on them, lol
Couldn’t they just sign Crede, then use Brown or Ramirez when theyre ready and when he inevitably gets hurt? I doubt he’d cost much.
Willy Aybar could be a possibility with Blalock likely to make the Rays. They’ve got Sean Rodriguez now so Aybar could be expendable.
Please take Nick Punto
Couldn’t they just sign Crede, then use Brown or Ramirez when theyre ready and when he inevitably gets hurt? I doubt he’d cost much.
I think that Lugo for Feliz and Andrus is more than a fair deal…. 😀
Kevin Frandson flipped again for Max ramirez…
There are a lot of great options out there for the Rangers on this one. I think that any of these guys can do the job well. Wiggy, Vasquez, Frandsen, Crede, and Mientkiewicz can all be had for little to nothing, and can all cover the corners. I really like the idea of Wiggy, because as the poster above said he still has some pop. I like Crede for the same reason but of course injuries are a problem. Mientkiewicz is also a good option because he can probably be signed for the league min. and can provide solid defense.
Minky might actually work, he can actually hit at times and maybe even Eric Hinske as well could be had, he can play the OF as well and has a really nice bat with some sweet power as well.
Why anybody would want Lugo, who can’t hit,or field is beyond me. sure, the Rangers would get away without having to pay him more than league minimum, but why would anybody even want to pay that for somebody that cannot move 1/2 a step in either direction, field a ball hit directly at him, throw a ball to the 1st baseman after he catches it and is a lousy .250 singles hitter at best?
The Braves just signed Hinske as their primary pinch-hitter. He’s not going to be traded.
ooooooooh Rangers, will you please just take Mike Lowell? PLEASE!
Maybe the Redsox can toss in Ortiz and some Fenway Franks.
Texas shares the Surprise Complex with the Royals. Josh Fields has no place on the Royals roster and plays both corner infield positions and one outfield position. He is also cheap and still under team control. Hhmmmm.
I think the Fields idea is great – not as washed up, or close to washed up, as some of the other options. And when he can connect he certainly has power, which should fare well in Texas. And, versatile enough to play the OF. Do it!
Mike Jacobs or Frank Catalonotto from the Mets sound like they might be a good fit.
Andy Marte…the Indians don’t really have a place for him so get him off the roster!
yea, send millar to the rangers for another PTBNL like Andres Blanco
I pray to god that the Rangers make a good play for Millar. I’ll be absolutely sick is Millar makes the Cubs