The Texas Rangers are in a spot few could have predicted-last place in the National League West. Injuries ravaged this ball club; the most damaging malady was a season-ending neck injury to Prince Fielder, but their rotation has been ripped apart and their depth depleted.
With nothing to play for this season, the Rangers are looking to deal anybody not considered a core player-outfielder Alex Rios fits that bill. He's been disappointing in the power department, notching just four home runs, but he's hitting .304 and has 16 stolen bases.
According to CBS' Jon Heyman, the San Francisco Giants, Kansas City Royals and Seattle Mariners are most interested in acquiring the versatile outfielder, with Fox Sports' John Morosi tweeting that the Giants are the ones in real talks at the moment.
Source: Giants, Rangers in midst of ongoing trade conversations involving Alex Rios.
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) July 31, 2014
The Giants could use the help in the outfield, where Hunter Pence has excelled but Angel Pagan's been sorely missed. Pagan is expected to return soon, but an outfield featuring Pagan, Rios and Pence is one of the top trios in baseball. That would leave current center fielder Gregor Blanco as a high-end bench option, and deepen San Francisco's lineup and overall roster.
It isn't clear what the Giants would give up, but any huge prospects are likely to stay put owing to Rios' clearly declining power and age (33 years old).
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