7/26 16:13: Clark Spencer of The Miami Herald tweets, “#Marlins are NOT close to deal with #Rangers on Cantu. Can’t agree on players. #Rockies have stepped up bid for him & #Giants still in mix.”

7/26 14:06: Jon Paul Morosi of FOXSports says the Rangers are interested in Cantu but “evaluating a number of bats”.

7/26 14:03: Gordon Edes of ESPNBoston.com says the Texas Rangers are “closing in on a deal” with the Florida Marlins for Cantu.

7/26 13:20: Joe Capozzi of The Palm Beach Post says the Rangers have asked most about Cantu, but they don’t necessarily have the edge over the Colorado Rockies or San Francisco Giants. He adds that if Cantu is traded, the Marlins will use Donnie Murphy and Wes Helms at third base until left fielder Chris Coghlan is ready to take over full time.

7/26 11:47: Jayson Stark of ESPN tweets, “#Marlins & #Rangers aren’t as far along on Jorge Cantu as advertised. Fla not in sell mode but still shopping Cantu to Tex, Col & SF”

7/26 09:42: Bob Nightengale of USA Today tweets, “The Texas Rangers are deep in conversations with Marlins for Cantu, taking close look at Cubs’ [Derrek] Lee, and want another starter.”

7/26 00:35: Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports tweets, “Source: #Marlins in “ongoing conversations” with #Rangers about Cantu. Fish also talking to #Rockies, #Giants. Rangers also considering #Orioles‘ Wigginton, others. Fish would move [Chris] Coghlan to 3B, call up [Logan] Morrison to play LF.”

7/25 13:37: Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports tweets, “Evidently #Rangers aren’t just in on Cantu. Those 3 scouts they had in [Baltimore] on Fri night were locked in on [Ty] Wigginton.”

7/25 09:06: Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports tweets, “Source confirms #Rangers “coming hard” for Cantu. #Marlins not convinced they should sell. Some in org believe prospect Morrison would adequately replace Cantu. Source says Nunez, Nolasco not getting traded. Uggla, Ross unlikely but not ruled out.

7/24 19:58: T.R. Sullivan of MLB.com says the Texas Rangers are making a strong push for Florida Marlins’ infielder Jorge Cantu.

The Rangers are looking for a right-handed hitting backup first baseman, and Cantu is high on their list. One problems is that the Marlins thinking they may be able to make a run at a playoff spot, so they’ll likely require a higher price for Cantu.

The Rangers are also interested in Baltimore Orioles Ty Wigginton.

Chris Davis will be the Rangers’ primary first baseman, but the team wants a right-handed hitter to help him out.

Cantu would still be owed over $2 million over the final two months if traded on July 31. The Rangers can’t afford that, but Judge Micahel Lynn said he has the power to have Major League Baseball extend their line of credit to make a transaction like this possible.

Related posts:

1. Update – Florida Marlins being asked about Volstad, Nolasco and Nunez
2. Update – Florida Marlins have made INF Jorge Cantu and OF Cody Ross available
3. Texas Rangers looking for right-handed hitting first baseman
4. Update – Colorado Rockies interested in Dan Uggla of the Florida Marlins?
5. Florida Marlins taking a wait-and-see approach to Trade Deadline