Given the injury to Martin Perez and a pair of poor outings from right-hander Justin Grimm, the Rangers made an inquiry on Rick Porcello earlier today, a source told ESPN's Adam Rubin.
The 24-year-old Porcello remains a popular name among trade rumors, given Detroit's enviable rotation depth. The former first-round pick pitched to a 4.59 ERA in 176 1/3 innings last season for the AL Central champs. Porcello's 52.3 percent ground-ball rate figures to be attractive to the Rangers, who pitch in the homer-friendly confines of Rangers Ballpark in Arlington.
Porcello is under team control through 2016 and will earn $5.1MM this season after avoiding arbitration with the Tigers in mid-January. Earlier today it was reported that the Rangers were one of several teams who had scouts in attendance for Porcello's start against the Astros. Porcello whiffed six hitters in four scoreless innings, walking none and allowing three hits.
The Rangers have also reportedly increased their interest in free agent Kyle Lohse, though they, like most other clubs, are still hesitant to sign the right-hander for a number of reasons.
