Rangers Talking Trade with Red Sox, Possibly Mets as Well

The Texas Rangers have had discussions with the Boston Red Sox on a potential trade, TR Sullivan reports. The names being mentioned are Koji Uehara and Mark Lowe, as the Red Sox are looking to re-build their bullpen in the wake of Jonathan Papelbon‘s departure and their moving of Daniel Bard to the rotation.

Uehara has also drawn interest from Baltimore, notes Sullivan, but the Rangers have been in the market for a utility player who can play shortstop and Boston’s Jed Lowrie would fit that description.

While Texas has maintained that they would just as soon hold on to Uehara, all the talk about adding another late-inning reliever makes me think otherwise. Texas was reportedly in on Jonathan Broxton before he signed in Kansas City and have had discussions with Oakland regarding Andrew Bailey. If the Rangers are intent on adding another right hander to the late innings, it’s pretty clear that they do not trust Uehara in such a role; a role he filled quite successfully with the Orioles before struggling after his trade to Texas last July.

Sooner or later, my guess is, Uehara will be traded this winter. The idea of losing Lowe, who like Uehara will be a free agent after the 2012 season, is almost immaterial as middle-inning right handers who throw hard but have command issues are not exactly a rare commodity throughout baseball. Texas can fill his role from within, or via a January scrapheap signing.

Rangers a fit for Ike Davis?

There are conflicting reports about whether or not the New York Mets are intent on moving first baseman Ike Davis, but Joel Sherman of the New York Post says they are and the Rangers are known to be interested.

I’m not exactly sure what to make of this talk, as I think it would take quite a lot to acquire Davis from the Mets and I don’t personally feel he’s a significant upgrade over Mitch Moreland.

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