Rangers Trade Rumors For You

I certainly don't purport to be a completionist where trade rumors are concerned, but here are the most significant rumors that I've seen as of early this morning:

● Jim Bowden, late last night: "Rangers trade targets have 1. Heath Bell 2. Carlos Beltran and they have enough prospects and the "will" to trade for both trades ... Mets going to get a top pitching prospect for Beltran, won't have to settle for [second-tier] prospect according to source familiar with talks ... Rangers pitching prospects in play for Beltran and Bell include: Erlin, Wieland, Ramirez, Scheppers, Ross, Loux and Mendez" (Twitter)

● I'm too beaten down by the litany of conflicting stories on Beltran to actually link anything here, but it appears, based off the tone of the articles out there this morning, that Beltran would accept a deal to an American League club provided that they're (a) in first place and (b) that he won't have to play DH. That shouldn't be a problem where Texas is concerned.

● Okay, maybe just one: "They are not getting a top-40-ranked prospect [in baseball] for Beltran even if they eat all the money [left on his contract]," said an executive from a team that expressed interest in the slugger. For example, the Braves want Beltran, but an AL official who has spoken to his Atlanta counterparts said: "There is no way the Braves give them one of their top four pitching prospects: [Mike] Minor, [Julio] Teheran, [Aroldys] Vizcano or [Randall] Delgado." (Joel Sherman, New York Post)

● "The Rangers know that the Mets are trying to move outfielder Carlos Beltran. They have received conflicting reports on whether Beltran is willing to waive his no-trade clause to move to the American League. But they know the Mets are looking hard at the Rangers' farm system and had multiple scouts evaluate pitcher Joe Wieland in his start for Double-A Frisco on Sunday night." (T.R. Sullivan, MLB.com)

● "The chances of Colorado ace Ubaldo Jimenez being dealt are now “around 50/50,” according to one major league source close to the talks. For the moment, though, some of the suitors are dismayed at what they believe are high demands. An executive of one interested team described the current price tag as “unrealistic.” But that could change in the days leading up to Sunday’s 4 p.m. ET non-waiver deadline." (Jon Paul Morosi, FOXSports.com)