The Texas Rangers have been serious players at the MLB trade deadline since Jon Daniels became the club's general manager, and this year will be no different. Let's take a look at a possible Rangers target for the July 31 deadline.
Target: Michael Cuddyer, OF, Colorado Rockies
In the same realm of another Trade Deadlne Target, Chris Sale, there's no solid indication that the Rockies will make their power-hitting all-star available. In fact, the Rockies' front office has gone record saying he's not available, but that could just be leverage and in this time of season, as we've come to know, you never believe what you hear.
Cuddyer would be just the Rangers need in a power-hitting right-handed hitter, who wouldn't be a rental but wouldn't be the same incredible cost as someone like Giancarlo Stanton. He'd be controllable for the remainder of this season and all of 2014 before becoming a free agent. He's set to earn $10.5 million in 2014, the same as his 2013 salary, which the Rangers would certainly be responsible for picking up a portion of.
Through 74 games this season, Cuddyer, who's 34, is hitting .330, well above his career average of .274 with 16 homers (matching his 2012 total) and 55 RBIs. So if the Rockies were to make him available, it would certainly be as a sell-high candidate.
Cuddyer could be plugged into left field for David Murphy, making him a fourth outfielder once again and could pair with Nelson Cruz as a pretty lethal power-hitting combination in the corner outfield spots.
