PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- When the New York Mets signed Alejandro De Aza to a one-year, $5.75 million contract in December, team officials did not foresee re-signing Yoenis Cespedes. Now, general manager Sandy Alderson has a glut of outfielders. And Alderson has acknowledged the Mets could consider trading De Aza during spring training if a suitor approaches the club with an appropriate offer.
Along those lines, the Texas Rangers are "keeping tabs" on De Aza in case outfielder Josh Hamilton's knee woes persist, Foxsports.com reports. Texas reportedly is also considering free agents David Murphy and Will Venable.
De Aza's playing time with the Mets is difficult to forecast with Cespedes, Curtis Granderson and Michael Conforto all warranting full playing time, with Juan Lagares available off the bench to start against left-handed pitching and to serve as a defensive replacement.