Let's take a quick look at some Texas Rangers news:
- The Rangers and CEO Nolan Ryan are on a "sad, unnecessary collision course," writes Kirk Bohls of the Austin American-Statesman. It seems more likely than not that Ryan will leave the club that he "helped rescue from despair," says Bohls, who cites a source "close to Ryan" who said it was '70-30' that he leaves." Boyls further opines that while Ryan is "not completely blameless in this soap opera because he's overstepped his bounds at times," he "has done too much and meant too much to be treated so callously."
- With highly-touted infield prospect Jurickson Profar headed to Triple-A in favor of Leury Garcia and Nick Tepesch taking the fifth rotation spot, the Rangers are continuing to hone their roster by "having trade discussions with other teams about outfielder Julio Borbon," writes MLB.com's T.R. Sullivan. Texas is "ready to go with Craig Gentry and Leonys Martin as their center fielders," says Sullivan, making Borbon expendable. According to GM Jon Daniels, "based on the interest we've received" in Borbon, the club would be "shocked" if he cleared waivers if the team sought to stash him in Triple-A.
- The Rangers also hope to work out a trade to keep Rule 5 pick Coty Woods, reports Sullivan. Since Woods cleared waivers, the club has 72 hours to reach a deal with the Rockies if they hope to hold on to him.
- Regarding the rotation, Sullivan writes that the team is committed at this point to Tepesch. "The Rangers were never seriously interested in free-agent pitcher Kyle Lohse and they[] have no ongoing trade discussions with other teams about starting pitching. They have scouted Dodgers pitchers Chris Capuano and Aaron Harang but did not get good reports back and there is nothing going between the two teams."
