The Rangers have added Bengie Molina and Cliff Lee in solid trades the last couple of weeks but they still have one glaring hole and it’s at first base. With that in mind I would be placing a call to the D-Backs with the idea of going after Adam LaRoche. LaRoche is a notorious second half hitter and he would be a outstanding fit in the Rangers’ lineup. I would definitely being willing to deal Chris Davis, Pedro Strop and Taylor Teagarden to the D-Backs for LaRoche. Of course the D-Backs would also have to send cash to cover LaRoche’s paycheck which would be why I would include Davis in the deal. The D-Backs would make that deal in a heartbeat and it would make the offense even better for the Rangers going forward.

The Rangers are 48-34 on the season which has them in first place in the A.L. West, 3.5 games ahead of the Angels. The Rangers only have one weakness and it seems to be in the starting rotation. The Rangers will likely be after Roy Oswalt, Cliff Lee and Dan Haren but so will a lot of other teams. If the Rangers can’t get one of the Big Three they will likely turn to the second tier in an effort to find help. Jeremy Guthrie, Fausto Carmona, Jake Westbrook, Ben Sheets, Jason Vargas, Ricky Nolasco, Ted Lilly, Brett Myers and Edwin Jackson could all interest the Rangers. The Rangers have the prospects to get any of the pitchers mentioned here but it takes two to tango.

It appears that the White Sox and Rangers have been talking about a trade involving A.J. Pierzynski. Pierzynski’s will be a 10/5 player in early June so the White Sox will likely speed up trying to deal him. That means the Rangers could probably get him for Taylor Teagarden and either Doug Mathis or Dustin Nippert. I would make the trade if I were running the Rangers as catcher has been a black hole for the team so far this season and Pierzynski would be a nice upgrade at a very reasonable price.