The Rangers met with the Red Sox this morning, reports MLB.com's T.R. Sullivan. The Sox have interest in Rangers relievers Koji Uehara and Mark Lowe, while the Rangers like infielder Jed Lowrie. Uehara and Lowe are both eligible for free agency after the 2012 season, while Lowrie is under team control through 2014.
The Orioles and other teams are interested in Uehara as well, but the Rangers still hold him in high regard despite his struggles late in the year for them.
The_BiRDS
Now the Rangers are trying to unload relievers???
Rangersfan32 2
Well seeing as relievers are sort of a strength for us right now.. Lowe for Lowrie would be a good swap for both teams.
TigsTown
Rangers would be real tight with Lowrie and can definitely afford to shop relievers
GMwannabe
great swap for both teams??? only if the Rangers include a very large bottle of KY Jelly
Rangersfan32 2
Well the way I see it, Boston is looking for bullpen help, and the Rangers are looking for a utility guy. And it sure looks like that’s what these talks are revolving around. So if any trade is made, that would be the most realistic.
Rangersfan32 2
Well seeing as relievers are sort of a strength for us right now.. Lowe for Lowrie would be a good swap for both teams.
ChrisV
The market is full of relievers it would be easy to pick one up or trade for one, but as for utility infielders there is high demand and not much availability. Not to mention if the Rangers can somehow sign Wilson, and Buehrle chooses to sign with Texas that makes for a rotation of Wilson, Buehrle, Holland, Harrison, Ogando, Feliz, and Lewis. That is 7 guys…Two of them will end up in the already loaded bullpen of Nathan, Adams, probably Oliver, Feldman…etc. So, unloading relievers at least those two seem ok at this point.Â
WonderboyRooney10
Makes sense, Rangers need someone to back up Andrus
Jeff 30
If the red sox steal Koji from us, I will fight them.
This is karma for wearing my oriole shorts and longoria jersey to the last game of the year
Rangersfan32 2
Steal Koji from you? He’s a part of the Texas organization now and unless the Orioles GM is an idiot, I doubt he’d dish up enough to convince Texas to trade Koji back.
Jeff 30
Relax. It was a joke. Sheesh.
Besides, the O’s have made it known that they want him back and Koji has made it known that he wants to come back to Baltimore
Rangersfan32 2
True but I highly doubt Baltimore has the prospects to pry Koji away from Texas.
torresjohnny87
would be a good trade for redsoxs dont want lowe tho
Moo
Do the Rangers really need another guy to play all over the IF? I would have thought that between their regulars (Beltre, Kinsler, Andus, and Moreland) that Young and Napoli would have been enough. Where do they expect to find enough playing time for these guys?
John McFadin
There is no possible way that Young will ever get to touch Shortstop again, so they need someone to back up Andrus.
Rangersfan32 2
Young is a DH 85% of the time. Napoli is a C and should be for 75 % of the games this next year. Which means we need a utility guy since Andres Blanco was let go.
ChrisV
Right now, aside from Young the Rangers have no one to back up in the infield so if lets say Kinsler gets injured which is prone to doing. Young would take over at 2nd, then that leaves no one to back him up or anyone else if another injury occurs or if someone needs rest etc. So a guy like Jed is a need right now, but for the price of Lowe? Yes. Uehara? No. Uehara gets past giving up HRs at the Ballpark in Arlington then he will be lights out.Â
ChrisV
Right now, aside from Young the Rangers have no one to back up in the infield so if lets say Kinsler gets injured which is prone to doing. Young would take over at 2nd, then that leaves no one to back him up or anyone else if another injury occurs or if someone needs rest etc. So a guy like Jed is a need right now, but for the price of Lowe? Yes. Uehara? No. Uehara gets past giving up HRs at the Ballpark in Arlington then he will be lights out.Â
gradylittle
I’ll take Uehara, he proved that he can pitch well in the AL East, would be a good addition to the bullpen. I think it’s a great return for Lowrie.Â
Rangersfan32 2
I seriously doubt Texas would give up Koji for a utility guy that they don’t desperately need. A Lowrie for Lowe trade would be one that might get going since Lowe still hasn’t made a name in Texas.
gradylittle
What do you expect in return for a relief pitcher like Uehara then?
Rangersfan32 2
I’m not expecting anything. I fully believe Koji will be with Texas all season. There’s no reason to give Koji away after not even half a season in a Rangers uniform.
gradylittle
What do you expect in return for a relief pitcher like Uehara then?
commenter3346
Uehara has 1 year left on his deal and he’s home run prone. I don’t want him or Lowe.
hiflew
If the Orioles were interested in Uehara, then why did they trade him away in the first place?
I am not trying to be a douche or anything, I just don’t really follow the Orioles.
wickedkevin
Thanks for Salty last year. What else ya got?
TJC...CFFL
No, no, Thank YOU!
Mike Napoli 2011- BA: .320 HR: 30 RBI: 75 OBP: .414
Jarod Saltalamaccia 2011- BA: .235 HR: 16 RBI: 56 OBP: .288
Rangersfan32 2
Thanks for Roman Mendez. Boston gave us a young, pitching prospect with #1 stuff and potential who’s quickly becoming one of our top prospects for a struggling catcher who couldn’t throw it back to the pitcher. Oh yeah, not to mention we replaced him with Mike Napoli. Have fun with Salty.
MadmanTX 2
Lowe and Uehara for Lowrie and Buchholz…we’ll even throw in Eric Gagne out of retirement again…just for laughs.
El_Bobo
That is a real laugh if you think they’re going to trade Buchholz for a reliever
John McFadin
Pretty awesome that you actually responded seriously to a post that basically screamed sarcasm.
El_Bobo
Wow really? I had no idea. I guess /s is needed for you guys
John McFadin
Pretty awesome that you actually responded seriously to a post that basically screamed sarcasm.
YanksFanSince78
So you took that and the Gagne throw in and thought he was serious?
YanksFanSince78
So you took that and the Gagne throw in and thought he was serious?
Rangersfan32 2
We can’t get anything past you can we superstar?
El_Bobo
/s wow. You guys are slow.
Kevin Pereira
Lowrie has as much durability as J.D Drew. This would be a good move for the Sox, bad for Rangers.
User 4245925809
You do realize Drew’s 1st 4 seasons he averaged 126 games? so much for that never on the field mentality most had until his last season when Drew was finally done for the most part and a blessing in disguise he was hurt in a way anyway.
GoAwayNow
126/162 = 78% He averaged missing more than a fifth of the season. That’s not great.
notsureifsrs
do want uehara
bigpat
Don’t really understand this from the Rangers perspective. I don’t think they really need Lowrie, aim for a lesser SS or utility man because they should be expecting Andrus to make 95% of the starts. I’d also prefer to see Lowrie get a shot at starting somewhere, because he still may have potential. SS is a very shallow position.Â
notsureifsrs
lowrie is going to be a nice buy low guy for somebody out there. he crushes lefties and with a healed wrist could hold his own against righties. not a defensive asset, but is passable at all three positions
User 4245925809
Not a defensive asset at SS, where most teams seem to always want him to play when his name pops up in trades.
A decent utility guy at the worst of it right now who ic capable of coming off of the bench in spurts and crushing the ball. Maybe he will be able to get rid of that injury tag one day. Hopefully so, somewhere.
Dan Gorgone
Sox have Aviles now, and don’t need Lowrie (and his constant injuries). Best of luck to him.
dan
I don’t like this from the red sox side. There are so many relievers available. Why use your trade bait for something that you can get easily on the open market
M.Kit
best your going to get in any Lowrie deal
M.Kit
best your going to get in any Lowrie deal
M.Kit
Makes sense for Boston, Mike Avilles makes Lowrie expendable
M.Kit
Makes sense for Boston, Mike Avilles makes Lowrie expendable
0bsessions
Thanks, but no thanks, I’ve had enough trade a guy we project as a backup to the Rangers for a reliever to last me a lifetime. I’d take Uehara, but Lowrie for Lowe is a massive overpay even considering Lowrie’s injury history. Lowe’s peripherals are just absolutely hideous.
0bsessions
Thanks, but no thanks, I’ve had enough trade a guy we project as a backup to the Rangers for a reliever to last me a lifetime. I’d take Uehara, but Lowrie for Lowe is a massive overpay even considering Lowrie’s injury history. Lowe’s peripherals are just absolutely hideous.
Matty Joe
If the Rangers are seriously considering dealing Uehara, does that mean they don’t like their chances of getting Yu Darvish? I thought that fellow Japanese pitchers Uehara and Tateyama were supposed to be part of the plan to lure him to Arlington.
Rangersfan32 2
It doesn’t say the Rangers are even shopping Koji. It says teams are interested in him. The most important thing I see here is “Texas holds Uehara in high regard even after his struggles.” Koji is going to be our 7th inning guy this year.