Jamey's post has gotten me thinking, and combing the internet too.  It's gotten me thinking about the two camps when it comes to the trade deadline as it pertains to your Texas Rangers.  The camp that says, "When you have a shot at the playoffs, you load up as best you can and go after it."  And then the camp that says. "Stick to 'The Plan' and hold your cards.  Don't go chasing 'the missing piece' when this team is a 2010 and beyond team."  I guess I should also include the 3rd camp that says, "It's Jonny Donuts time to step up and shine and fix this awful mess he has THIS THING in and stop worrying about BA rankings and worry about what's going on in THE SHOW.  And if it fails it's because JD is a moron.  But if it succeeds it's because Nolan Ryan identified the guy(s) THIS THING needed.  KRIS DAVIS!  THIS THING! THE SHOW! T.G.H.B.W.O.J '09!!!"

My thoughts on the matter are somewhere in the middle, where I think the majority of people fall.  I think you owe it to the team to give them the best chance you can to make a run in 2009.  But I also think that the strides that have been made across the entire organization shouldn't be risked for one piece on a team that could obviously use multiple pieces.  So, I tried to identify guys across the league who should be/are available but at the same time aren't guys that are going to cause their team's GM to bring up names like Smoak, Holland, Feliz, or Perez.  I don't really have a feel for all of their values or for all of their organizations specific needs.  But, based on some internet rumblings and some names brought up right here on LSB, this is the list I came up with.

RH Bats:

Ryan Garko, 1B/DH, Cleveland Indians

.286/.362/.470 Overall, .328/.384/.567 vs. LHP

This tidbit from Terry Pluto of the Cleveland Plain Dealer via MBLTR:

 Could be wrong, but I have a sense the Indians are working on a deal for Ryan Garko and that's why Andy Marte (.329, 17 HRs, 64 RBI, .958 OPS) has not been promoted. He will be brought up if the deal is made. Some fans have asked about Marte's contract situation and a Tribe operative sent me this: "He is eligible for minor-league free agency at the end of the year. If we do not add him to the 40-man roster before or at the end of the year, he would become a free agent. If we add him to the roster, he would be under control for next year. However, we would not be able to send him to the minors without first asking waivers because he is out of options."

While it seems more of a hunch than an actual rumor, it makes a lot of sense for a team trying to rebuild and talking about moving a lot of different names.  Especially if they wind up with James Loney and want to give Andy Marte a look.

Josh Willingham, OF/DH, Washington Nationals

.291/.407/.565 overall, .326/.492/.674 vs LHP

From MLB.com's Bill Ladson via MLBTR:

The Rangers have been in Washington scouting the Nationals, according to a baseball source. Texas is looking for a right-handed hitter, and it is believed that it has interest in Josh Willingham, who has been one of the Nationals' most consistent hitters this season.

Willingham has been discussed ad nauseum here, and was of course the main subject of Jamey's post.  He makes a ton of sense for a team lacking plate discipline and in need of a RH bat who can crush LHP.  It helps that he has been crushing all pitching no matter which side they throw the ball from too.  He is also sporting a very nice 50:34 K:BB ratio.  He only has 219 ABs this season for what it's worth.

In the old, injured, slugger category; Gary Sheffield (40) and Troy Glaus (32).  Both of these guys would figure to replace Andruw Jones as the RH DH.  Sheffield is on the 15-day DL retroactive to July 18 with a hamstring injury.  He has put up solid numbers for the Mets this year and a move to the AL and the DH role should help his numbers down the stretch.  Also, the Tigers are paying most of his salary.  Glaus hasn't played in 2009 after a very nice 2008 season.  He doesn't really fit in St. Louis with Holliday in town.  The Cardinals would have to foot some of the financial bill on Glaus which would raise the prospect price a little, but he should be available without having to surrender a lot of talent in terms of quality and quantity.

LH Bats:

Nick Johnson, 1B/DH, Washington Nationals

.298/.410/.409 overall, .343/.444/.515 vs LHP

Johnson has also been the topic of a few discussions here.  His name seems to have fallen off the map compared to all the rumors floating around about him over the first half of the season.  He could fit nicely anywhere in the lineup from 2-6.  He also has a great line against LHP in 99 ABs this year.  My guess is that the Nationals must be trying to hold teams at gunpoint.  His name could heat up in the last few days before the deadline and he could go from being a bargain to creating a bidding war.

Adam Dunn, OF/1B/DH, Washington Nationals

.275/.403/.553

Everyone has an opinion on Dunn.  He strikes out a lot and hits a lot of home runs so he seems like a Texas Ranger already.  But, he has the plate discipline that this team sorely needs.  He is also hitting in the .270s and I would imagine the short porch would be to his liking.  Awful defender, base clogger, and he hits from the left side.  Still, if you can snag him at a decent price, you do it.  He does have a higher price tag in terms of dollars, so it could be a moo point (it's like arguing with a cow, it's moo) anyway unless Hicks sells his estate to finance the move.

Luke Scott, DH/OF, Baltimore Orioles

.285/.369/.581 overall, .301/.363/.651 vs LHP with 8 of his 18 HRs

I have no gauge for what the Orioles would want in return, or if they would even want to move him.  They have their OF set with Jones, Markakis, and Reimold.  Their catching is also set with Wieters and they have young pitching that even the Rangers could envy with Matusz, Tillman, Arrieta, and Bergesen.  But that infield is lagging way behind.  Aubrey Huff is another guy they could field offers for but his salary is prohibitive and his 2009 numbers aren't good enough to make a move for him anyway.  If you could build a package that sent some infield help to Baltimore, they may listen.  Problem is Vallejo, Arias, Lemon, etc. aren't going to get you Scott.  And Scott is not worth Smoak or Davis.  Probably not a match here at all, but he would be a definite upgrade.

Pitching:

SP Zach Duke, LHP, Pittsburgh Pirates

9-9, 3.42 ERA, 1.23 WHIP

Duke is a Pirate, therefor he is on the trading block.  He would be the most expensive in terms of talent of the Pirate pitching to go after.  He has gone at least 6 innings in all but one start, when he went 5.1 innings.  He is a Texas boy who throws left handed which has a certain appeal.  You just don't know if you're going to get the Zach Duke of 2005 and 2009, or the Zach Duke of 2006-2008.  He is also on the wrong end of the GO/AO line.

SP Carl Pavano, RHP, Cleveland Indians

8-8, 5.48 ERA, 1.40 WHIP

Outside of May, Pavano has been incredibly inconsistent and uninspiring.  He is a flyball pitcher.  He does have his best K:BB ratio of his career in 2009.  And he is cheap.  The Indians are selling, and if you want to grab a veteran SP he should come at a reasonable price.  He would bump Holland back to the pen, and provide more depth for a rotation that has lost Harrison for the year and probably B-Mac.  It all depends whether you want Holland to learn how to be a ML SP in 2009 for the benefit of 2010 and beyond, or whether you want Holland as a big time bullpen arm and want to give your team it's best chance to win every 5th day.  Because I think at this point, while Pavano is nothing special, he is a better #5 option than Holland.  Of course, over 70 or so games, that may not make a huge difference.

SP/RP Ian Snell, RHP, Pittsburgh Pirates

I'm going to leave his stats out for now because of what he is doing at AAA.  I don't know if his money is too rich for the Rangers blood, but he would give them the rotation depth they need while also being a viable option in the pen and on future Rangers teams.

I think Jeff (the writer) Wilson had some pretty good relief targets in this article, though Betancourt has since been dealt by Cleveland.  I would also add John Grabow, Tyler Clippard (cause Jamey said so), and I'm sure there are others.

Point of this whole thing...there are ways to improve without sending out your top guys.  And with the depth of this system, as has been mentioned by Jamey, you would have to make more than one blockbuster move to gut the farm.  I hope this wasn't just a regurgitation of Jamey's points and of names that have been discussed plenty already.  So, who makes sense?  Who isn't on this list that should be? What would these guys cost?