With a rash of injuries hitting the Texas Rangers pitching staff, the two-time defending AL champions may be looking at adding another starting pitcher at the trade deadline, even after signing Roy Oswalt.
The most intriguing name on the trade market is Zack Greinke of the Milwaukee Brewers, a Cy Young Award winning pitcher set to enter free agency at the end of the year.
Milwaukee, a small-market team that has struggled since losing Prince Fielder to free agency, may have no choice but to deal Greinke now that they are drifting out of contention.
As a result, the Rangers front office is covering all their bases:
Right on cue: #Rangers scout arrives in Cincinnati today. Zack Greinke is pitching. Not an accident.
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) June 27, 2012
Greinke is 8-2 with a 2.81 ERA in 92 innings for Milwaukee this season. Of course, acquiring him will require a bounty of prospects, but the Rangers, with one of the highest-rated farm systems in the game, could put together a reasonable package.
The question for the Texas front office is whether Greinke can put them over the top like Cliff Lee did in 2010 and how much of their future they want to sacrifice in order to give themselves the best chance of winning now.
For all the latest news, rumors and analysis of the Rangers trade deadline activity, stay tuned to the SB Nation Dallas StoryStream as well as Lone Star Ball.