Rangers rumors: Zack Greinke, Michael Young, Justin Upton

If the Texas Rangers had it their way, they would sign right-hander Zack Greinke, trade infielder Michael Young to the Philadelphia Phillies for prospects and acquire outfielder Justin Upton from the Arizona Diamondbacks, reports Bob Nightengale of USA Today:

Their preference is to sign Greinke, trade infielder Michael Young to the Philadelphia Phillies for prospects and fill Hamilton's void by trading for Diamondbacks right fielder Justin Upton.

You’ll notice that these offseason plans do not include free agent and former Rangers outfielder Josh Hamilton. Nightengale notes that Texas can’t afford to sign both Greinke and Hamilton this winter, and they’d prefer to ink the arm and acquire an outfielder.

While the Los Angeles Dodgers were initially the favorite to land Greinke, they are now becoming more pessimistic about their chances. Greinke’s wife, a former Dallas Cowboys cheerleader, reportedly wants her husband to sign with the Rangers, and the Dodgers feel that if the right-hander wanted to reach an agreement with them he’d have done so by now.

The Rangers have reached an advanced stage in trade talks with the Phillies regarding Young, but he will have the ultimate decision on the move considering his no-trade clause. Meanwhile, there hasn’t been much reported on a possible Upton deal since yesterday at the winter meetings.