We continue our series looking at possible trade targets for the Rangers today by looking at a bat.
Today's target: Hunter Pence
With Matt Garza flying to Texas to join the club for workouts Tuesday and slated to pitch Wednesday, the Rangers can turn their attention to a bat. There were two big items on GM Jon Daniels' trade deadline shopping list: a starting pitcher and a right-handed bat. He's got the first part, but he is still working on that second part.
So what about Pence? He was born in Fort Worth and went to UTA, so he's certainly comfortable in the area. The 30-year-old, right-handed hitter is batting .263 with 14 homers and 49 RBIs for the San Francisco Giants this season. He's hitting .316 against left-handed pitchers in 95 at-bats with a .942 OPS. That would certainly look good on this club.
Pence is making $13.8 million this season and is a free agent after it's over. He'd be another true rental. But he would provide a bat for the club and someone who can play the corner outfield spots. He's played the entire season in right field for the Giants, by the way.
At this point, the Giants haven't indicated they've made Pence available. They are 5 1/2 back in the NL West and aren't ready to concede anything yet. We'll see if that changes.
