Rangers evaluating Cuban first baseman Abreu

ST. PETERSBURG -- The Rangers have begun doing their homework on Cuban first baseman Jose Dariel Abreu and are planning to attend a showcase for him later this month in the Dominican Republic.

Last month, Abreu defected from Cuba, where he was one of the premier power hitters in the Cuban National Series. He also hit .360, with three home runs and nine RBIs in the World Baseball Classic last spring.

The Rangers will go into the offseason looking for ways to upgrade their offense, and first base could be an area of focus. Mitch Moreland went into Tuesday's game hitting .234 with 22 home runs and 57 RBIs in 133 games.