Rangers Rumors

Today's Texas Rangers Rumors:

• The team will try again to lock up 2B Ian Kinsler long term. It would probably be a five year deal that would cover one year of free agency.
• 3B Hank Blalock and C Gerald Laird have been getting interest. It's known that the Rangers aren't interested in selling Blalock low, but could be more interested in trading Laird. The team would like to have Jarrod Saltalamacchia catching full time, so trading Laird makes sense. The Red Sox have shown interest so far.
• The Rangers have said that P Vicente Padilla is available. No point in hiding it because Padilla isn't a great pitcher, and could land a half decent prospect if soem salary is eaten.
• The Rangers are interested in Japanese players Kosuke Fukudome and Hiroki Kuroda. The team also likes Mike Lamb and Ben Broussard.