Two days until Christmas.

Richard Durrett has a blog post about the Rangers possibly being interested in making a deal with the Diamondbacks for one of their extra outfielders, now that the D-Backs have signed Cody Ross. Durrett says that Justin Upton would be the Rangers' first choice, but also says that Jason Kubel "isn't a bad backup choice" for Texas if they can't get Upton:

Kubel isn't a bad backup choice since the Rangers have a right-handed heavy lineup (though David Murphy, the current left-fielder, is also a left-handed hitter). Kubel is also cheaper.

The Rangers' lineup, as it stands now, has four righthanded hitters (Nelson Cruz, Adrian Beltre, Elvis Andrus, and Ian Kinsler), four lefthanded hitters (David Murphy, A.J. Pierzynski, Leonys Martin, and Mitch Moreland), plus a switch-hitter in Jurickson Profar. If you add Kubel, you are presumably adding him to DH, meaning that Kinsler stays at 2B, Moreland at 1B, and Profar goes to the minors to start the season. But it also means that you've got a rather lefty-heavy lineup, with Kubel, Murphy and Moreland all players you probably don't want facing lefties on a regular basis.

Gerry Fraley has a story on Josh Lindblom, the reliever the Rangers acquired in the Michael Young trade.