With the MLB Trade Deadline approaching, some teams are looking to buy and others are looking to sell. It's kinda easy to figure out who from looking at rumors -- here's a roundup of what's buzzing on a relatively quiet Saturday morning, non-Cliff Lee edition.
MLB trade rumors: Rangers interested in Alex Rios, Michael Young, Cubs still sellers
Alex Rios is a hot commodity on the trade market, while pretty much everybody on the Cubs is available, even after they’ve parted with Matt Garza and Alfonso Soriano.
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Texas' quest for an outfielder remains ongoing, with Alex Rios rumored to top the team's list as they try to put together pieces to make a run at the A's in the AL West. The White Sox are looking to deal their right fielder, and although the teams "aren't close" at the moment, per CBS Sports' Jon Heyman, he's the guy the Rangers are gunning for.
Rios is hitting .273 with 12 homers and 21 stolen bases. For Texas, Nelson Cruz is doing fine in right field with 24 home runs, Leonys Martin has been serviceable with a .284 batting average in center, but David Murphy has been a bit of a weak link, hitting just .226 with a .661 OPS, the second-lowest of a Rangers starter. Rios has only played 11 career innings in left field, so they might have to shuffle players around to make him comfortable.
With Alfonso Soriano gone to the Yankees and Matt Garza gone to the Texas Rangers, the Cubs have made it clear they're trying to get some prospects in return for whatever serviceable players they have. They're not going to change their M.O.: the fourth place squad in the NL Central is still looking to move players.
Per Bruce Levine of ESPN Chicago, names that could potentially be included in deals are outfielders David DeJesus, Nate Schierholtz and relievers Kevin Gregg, and James Russell.
More Rangers news! After dealing Michael Young to the Phillies this past offseason, they engaged in talks to bring him back to Texas. But it apparently isn't much of a talk, as Jayson Stark of ESPN says the teams aren't particularly close.
The Rangers could use Young to play shortstop, as Elvis Andrus is hitting just .247 and doesn't have a homer. Young is hitting .278 with seven homers. The Phillies are nine games back in the NL East, while the Rangers are clearly interested in making deals to potentially push for the postseason.
Per Ken Rosenthal, the Toronto Blue Jays made a play for Gordon Beckham, but the talks fell apart. Not surprising a team fighting to stay alive in the packed AL East would want to acquire another bat, especially one that could replace Emilio Bonifacio or Brett Lawrie, but it's also not surprising the White Sox wouldn't want to part with a 26-year-old hitting .325.
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