Per Ken Rosenthal, the Rangers are actively looking for a right handed corner infielder, notably Conor Jackson of the Diamondbacks.
↵According to Rosenthal:
↵↵↵The Rangers are not simply waiting on a trade for the Red Sox’s Mike Lowell. They are exploring deals for a number of right-handed hitting corner players, including Diamondbacks left fielder Conor Jackson, according to major-league sources.
↵Jackson, 28, could serve as a platoon partner for rookie first baseman Justin Smoak, a switch-hitter who is only 5-for-52 (.096) against left- handed pitching this season.
↵The Rangers and Diamondbacks have discussed Jackson, but Texas also is considering other options and "nothing is remotely close," one source said.
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Jackson is making a little over $3 million this year and will be arbitration eligible for the third time this coming winter according to Cot’s baseball contracts.
↵I’ve always had mixed feelings on Jackson. I never expected him to hit for power, but I did expect him to post fairly high OBPs. He’s regressed since his 2008 season when he hit .300/.376/.446 with a .364 wOBA. The 2009 season was essentially a lost one for Jackson, as he spent most of it on the disabled list with Valley Fever virus. He’s struggled so far this year, hitting to the tune of .238/.326/.331 and has had one stint on the disabled list with a hamstring injury.
↵It all depends on the price and what Arizona would want for Jackson, but Jackson is much more appealing to me than Mike Lowell – even if the Red Sox were willing to give Lowell away. A change of scenery could be exactly what Jackson needs to get his career going again, and I’d certainly rather see him off the bench than Joaquin Arias.
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