Rangers in on trade talks leading to Meetings

ARLINGTON — The Rangers head into the Winter Meetings still focused on starting pitching, and general manager Jon Daniels said they were more involved in trade discussions than pursuit of free agents.

What’s remains hanging out there is if the club will pull off an impact trade for a starting pitcher. White Sox left-hander Chris Sale is everybody’s primary target — especially the Rangers — but teammate Jose Quintana and Rays right-hander Chris Archer may be in play as well.

“We are not looking it that way as far as making headlines,” Daniels said on Friday. “Every acquisition has a chance to make an impact. Whether or not an acquisition fits the definition of impact is less significant than if they are a long-term fit as far as culture and talent.”

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The Rangers remain quiet as the offseason moves into December and the Winter Meetings begin on Sunday outside Washington D.C. So far the only big news has been the signing of free-agent starter Andrew Cashner.

MLB.com and MLB Network will have wall-to-wall coverage of the 2016 Winter Meetings from the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center outside Washington, D.C. Fans can watch live streaming of all news conferences and manager availability on MLB.com, including the Rule 5 Draft on Dec. 8 at 8 a.m. CT.

Friday was the non-tender deadline, but the Rangers have offered contracts to all of their arbitration-eligible players: relievers Sam Dyson, Jeremy Jeffress, Tanner Scheppers and Jake Diekman, starter A.J. Griffin, infielder Jurickson Profar and catcher Robinson Chirinos.

Daniels did brief the media on Friday before the start of the Winter Meetings and the main thrust of his message was the Rangers have …

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