Rangers Have Options To Consider-For Key Injuries!

Arlington, TX- AL West leading Texas Rangers have experienced key injuries to Adrian Beltre and now Nellie Cruz, with hamstring injuries. With the pennant race with the Los Angeles Angels coming down to the wire, Texas has a couple of options to replace Cruz in right field. The in-house replacements include Murphy, Chavez, and Gentry. The Rangers are bringing up Leonys Martin from Triple-A Round Rock, who has been hitting .263.

However, the Rangers have been eyeing Lance Berkman, who's playing for the ST Louis Cardinals. ST Louis is 10 1/2 games behind the Milwaukee Brewers in NL Central. ST. Louis being so far behind and Berkman only signing a one year contract, could make him available for the Rangers. Texas tried to sign Berkman before the season, he decided to play in ST Louis. Berkman went to ST Louis thinking he had a better chance of winning there. If the Rangers sign Berkman for part time services it would cost them $1.33 million in salary. Berkman has played well this season with ST Louis, hitting .289, 30 homers, and 81 RBI's.

Adrian Beltre is expected to be back with the Rangers as early as Wednesday. Beltre played seven innings at third base, going 1 for 4, striking out twice last night at Double-A Frisco. Beltre has been gone since July 23rd. Beltre has been gone so long, he would be like an extra batter in Texas' lineup. With Beltre coming back it will give Hamilton some protection in the lineup. That could allow Hamilton to really get going offensively down the stretch of the pennant race.

Sources in Major League baseball have said, the Rangers have been having conversations about purchasing Berkman for his services for the rest of the season. By the end of the week Texas could have Beltre and Berkman added to their already potent offense. With Texas moving in that direction to add Berkman to their lineup in place of Cruz, shows the respect they have for the Angels. Also, how important it is to repeat as AL West Champions, so they can defend their American League Championship from a year ago.

Texas' Nellie Cruz will be out for three weeks. Texas' reasoning for adding Berkman to their lineup is to fill their voided spot in the lineup. That will also allow an extra bat in their lineup for the stretch run, even when Nellie comes back. If Berkman becomes a Ranger that could also help them repeat as AL West Champions and help them to defend their only American League Championship in club history.