According to Dennis Manoloff, the Indians are close to acquiring outfielder Kenny Lofton. The Rangers will receive catcher Max Ramirez, who the Indians got for Bob Wickman last year.
Ramirez, 22, has a nice .923 OPS in 77 High A games. However, Baseball Prospectus’s Nate Silver is skeptical. This acquisition certainly wouldn’t stop the Rangers from getting Jarrod Saltalamacchia.
It’s great to see Lofton back in Cleveland, even if he won’t be in center field. He’s been around forever, but still knows how to get on base and swipe ’em with a high success rate. Probably not someone you want to start against southpaws, but he makes the perfect platoon partner for Jason Michaels.
Interestingly, Will Carroll of Baseball Prospectus reports that the Indians and Rangers didn’t just discuss Lofton – Mark Teixeira’s name came up as well.
