Rangers interested in A.J. Pierzynski

The Chicago Tribune is reporting that the Rangers are showing interest in White Sox catcher A.J. Pierzynski. Pierzynski is in the final year of his three year deal earning a respectable 6.25 million dollars this season. He does have some no-trade protection, but it is not clear the extent of it.

Pierzynski is hitting just .198 with 2 home runs in 31 games this season, but hit .300 last season and was a huge player for the White Sox. The White Sox have a legitimate reason to trade Pierzynski with prospect Tyler Flowers waiting in the wings in Triple-A. Flowers is hitting .267 with 8 home runs in 29 games at Triiple-A.

A source confirmed Texas inquired about the Sox's durable catcher. But a lengthy delay in the sale of the Rangers has raised the question of whether they could take on the balance of Pierzynski's $6.7 million salary, the source added.

If the White Sox could get anything back for the catcher, it might be worth pulling the trigger. The Rangers are obviously not very comfortable with Jarrod Saltalamachhia or Max Ramirez behind the plate just yet.