By this time last year, the Rangers had already made their slam dunk trade.
This year, they'll make another one, it just hasn't happened yet.
With the July 31 trade deadline rapidly approaching, the Rangers are a big player in many "insider" trade rumors.
San Diego Padres closer Heath Bell has reportedly said the Rangers would be the "best fit" for him, with the idea he'd set up for Neftali Feliz before likely returning to San Diego next season as a free agent.
Bell has the most talent and name recognition of the bullpen arms out there, but he also has the least likely chance of re-signing with a new team, so his price shouldn't be too terribly high.
The Rangers are also supposedly hot on the trail of New York Mets outfielder Carlos Beltran. The former AL Rookie of the Year is hitting .291 this year with 15 home runs and 64 RBIs and he'd step in as the Rangers' everyday center fielder. Beltran's top rumored suitor appears to be the defending world champion San Francisco Giants, but the Rangers are right there.
The Beltran rumor doesn't make as much sense as the Bell/Mike Adams/Tyler Clippard rumor, simply because the Rangers need more help in the bullpen than they need in the lineup, but Beltran would be a nice addition in the field and at the plate.
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We'll know what happens by this time next week. It should be an exciting six days.
