Target: Kurt Suzuki, C
2013 stats: In 94 games between Washington and Oakland, .232 batting average, .290 on-base percentage, five home runs, 32 RBIs, .991 fielding percentage, 8-for-65 throwing out base-stealers
Suzuki isn't an overwhelming name — no question about that. But the Rangers are looking for a stop-gap on a one-year deal to pair with Geovany Soto, who was brought back on a one-year deal of his own. They have perhaps the top catching prospect in the game in Jorge Alfaro, who seems to be on track for a 2015 arrival in Arlington. Suzuki would come in as the backup behind Soto and probably catch 1-2 games per week, and it seems like the Rangers could live with that.
MLB.com's T.R. Sullivan reports the Rangers have shifted their interest to Suzuki after Dioner Navarro signed a multi-year deal with Toronto, which freed up J.P. Arencibia. Jarrod Saltalamacchia is also free now after the Red Sox signed former Ranger A.J. Pierzynski, but the Rangers reportedly aren't too interested in their former catcher, especially at the three-year term Saltalamacchia is asking.
