Rangers Notes: Lohse, Ryan, Daniels

Last night, we learned that the Rangers made an inquiry on Tigers right-hander Rick Porcello.  Texas was one of several teams who had scouts in attendance for Porcello's Monday against the Astros where he recorded six strikeouts and no walks across four scoreless innings.  Here's the latest out of Arlington..

• In this week's inbox, a reader asked MLB.com's T.R. Sullivan if the Rangers will sign Kyle Lohse given the question marks surrounding their arms.  Sources tell Sullivan that a deal is still not likely to happen and they are still determined to find a fifth starter between Robbie Ross, Nicholas Tepesch, and Randy Wells.  The Rangers are also confident that Colby Lewis could be back in the rotation by the end of May.
• Despite talk that Nolan Ryan may part ways with the Rangers over Jon Daniels' promotion, Daniels says that their relationship has become stronger over the years, writes Jeff Wilson of the Star-Telegram.  Second baseman Ian Kinsler, who signed a multi-year extension in April, says that Ryan has helped attract key free agents to join the team.  “I would love to have him around for as long as I’m here and as long as he’d like to be here,” Kinsler said.
• The reason the Rangers gave Daniels a new title has more to do with assistant GM Thad Levine than it does with Ryan, writes Buster Olney of ESPN.com (Insider sub. req'd).  Texas wants to hold together the group that works under Daniels and giving him the title of president of baseball operations gives them space to someday promote Levine someday to GM.