Badler: Rangers among leading candidates to sign Abreu

Ben Badler has a write-up in regards to first baseman Jose Abreu, a 26 year old righthanded-hitting Cuban defector who is expected to sign a hefty major league deal this coming offseason, in which he focuses on the teams who seem like the most likely candidates to sign Abreu.

Badler identifies the Rangers as the #1 team on the list, saying that "[a]ll of the stars seem to be aligned" for the Rangers to get Abreu.  Not only does Texas have holes at first base and DH and a need for power in the middle of their lineup, they have, per Badler, a close relationship with Abreu's representatives, who also represented Ranger signees Leonys Martin and Jairo Beras.

There seems to be some mixed reviews about Abreu, who is a big power hitter, but who scouts don't seem unanimously sold on as an impact player.  Abreu will get an eight figure major league deal and will most likely be in someone's starting lineup next season, whether the Rangers' or someone else's.