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Texas Rangers rumors: Joakim Soria, Alex Rios and Neal Cotts are available via trade and being shopped, according to Jon Heyman, but the Rangers aren't looking to move Adrian Beltre, Elvis Andrus and Yu Darvish.
Of that second group, Elvis is the only one that might be surprising, but Heyman explains:
It probably isn't a surprise the Rangers intend to keep its core together. Andrus in particular had been viewed as a more likely trade candidate since the Rangers are well-stocked with young middle infielders, including also Luis Sardinas, Rougned Odor and Jurickson Profar, but beyond Profar's upsetting, even exasperating, year-ending injury, the Rangers view Andrus as instrumental to their clubhouse and in any case want to guard against selling low. Word is, he is "very likely" staying now.
Cotts is a free agent after the season, and so it seems to be a given that he'll be dealt. Soria and Rios have team options for next season, and so the Rangers don't have to move either one, but it sounds like Soria is likely to be dealt, as the Rangers are in a position to command a strong return for him, and have a lot of viable bullpen arms in their system that can help solidify the bullpen next year.
I've been working off the assumption that the market for Rios -- who the Rangers got in exchange for Leury Garcia in August, 2013 -- would be soft, but Heyman suggests that there's a solid market there for him. As Heyman notes in his piece, the Rangers are planning on competing in 2015, and moving Rios would open another hole the Rangers would have to fill. But if there's a market a team is willing to part with a significant prospect or two for Rios, it sounds like he will be gone.
