Texas unsuccessfully offered four players for Marlins slugger Giancarlo Stanton. (USATSI)
Texas unsuccessfully offered four players for Marlins slugger Giancarlo Stanton. (USATSI)

As Jon Heyman wrote Friday morning, the Rangers are looking everywhere to try to find a right-handed hitting outfielder, not surprising given the concern that Nelson Cruz could face a Biogenesis drug suspension.

So it shouldn't come as much of a surprise that the Rangers have continued to ask the Marlins about Giancarlo Stanton, even though the Marlins continue to tell them he isn't available. The Rangers went so far as to make a four-player offer for Stanton, according to one source, who said the offer was strong enough that the Marlins front office considered it worth pursuing.

Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria, the source said, quickly put an end to any talk of a Stanton trade.

But the Rangers continue to think big, recently sending a scout to watch Edwin Encarnacion and Jose Bautista of the Blue Jays. A deal for either of the two Toronto sluggers was described as unlikely, but the interest shows the level of player the Rangers are looking for.

The Blue Jays haven't given any indication they would consider moving either Encarnacion or Bautista.

As Heyman wrote, the Rangers have discussed the possibility of bringing back Michael Young, but they say they're more focused on obtaining an outfielder right now. Alex Rios, Hunter Pence, Marlon Byrd and Chris Denorfia are other players thought to be on the Rangers' lengthy list of possible targets.