The Texas Rangers are likely to end up with one of free
agent slugger Josh Hamilton or Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Justin Upton,
and most expect them to “overpay” for whichever acquisition they end up with,
reports Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports.
A rival executive, assessing the Texas Rangers on Monday, said, “They’re going to overpay Hamilton or they’re going to overpay ‘KT.’”
That’s Hamilton as in free-agent outfielder Josh Hamilton. And that’s “KT” as in Arizona general manager Kevin Towers, who is dangling right fielder Justin Upton, a hitter whom the Rangers covet maybe even more than Hamilton.
Rosenthal notes that while he expects the Rangers to sign
one of Hamilton or Upton, “they could even end up with both.”
At this point the Rangers have lost several players from their
2012 offense, including first baseman/catcher Mike Napoli and veteran infielder
Michael Young. The Rangers cannot afford to also lose out on Hamilton without
replacing at least some of his production.
It’s very possible that Texas’ roster will continue evolving
in the next few weeks as they’ve been tied to several other free agents,
including catcher A.J. Pierzynski and right-hander Anibal Sanchez.
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