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Texas Interested In Conor Jackson

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Per Ken Rosenthal, the Rangers are actively looking for a right handed corner infielder, notably Conor Jackson of the Diamondbacks.

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According to Rosenthal:

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

Photographs by jamesbrandon, jdtornow, phlezk, flygraphix, mcdlttx, tomasland, and literalbarrage used in background montage under Creative Commons. Thank you.