ARLINGTON -- The non-waiver Trade Deadline is approaching. It arrives Monday, and the Rangers have been at the center of the rumors of potential deals. They have been namely around Yu Darvish.
The rumblings grew louder Thursday, as reports surfaced saying that the Rangers had officially placed Darvish on the trading block and were actively taking calls. MLB.com confirmed the rumors, and the Rangers are indeed pursuing trades involving Darvish before the Deadline hits.
The Dodgers are interested in Darvish, but they aren't offering the type of package the Rangers would accept as of now. The Yankees are involved in the pursuit of the right-hander as well. No matter what trade the Rangers opt to do, they'll be looking for more than one high-level prospect in return. The Dodgers and Yankees both have the type of deep farm systems from which the Rangers would like to pull.
The rumors can be draining on a team, though. Darvish said he was doing his best to block them out, and Rangers manager Jeff Banister discussed the effect trades can have on a clubhouse, parts that most people don't see or realize.

"The part of trades … there is a transitional period," Banister said before Friday's game against the Orioles. "One of your brothers is leaving. There is a change in chemistry. It happens when guys get hurt, get sent out, another guy gets brought up."
No matter whether the Rangers trade Darvish or keep him, they're not viewing the season as a lost cause. They're actively trying to win to earn an American League Wild Card spot.
So for Banister, worrying about trades doesn't help the team win games in the day-to-day grind, and it's something he says they can't afford to constantly think about.
"There is no white flag here. It ain't happening," Banister said. "We're going to go out and scratch and claw to win baseball games. The message that gets delivered every single day and night: This is the game we're playing today and this is the one we're going to go out and try to win.
"There are things that are not in our control. We've been charged with going and playing baseball games."