KANSAS CITY -- Rangers general manager Jon Daniels is not fond of "rental" players. If Daniels is going to acquire a starting pitcher, he would prefer one who will be with Texas for more than this season.
Chris Sale, Jake Odorizzi and Matt Moore -- the names being thrown around the most -- all fit that requirement. But Daniels admitted that he may have to consider a rental player before the Aug. 1 non-waiver Trade Deadline.
"I think the only real change is I was hoping we wouldn't consider a rental," Daniels said. "In my mind, we are open to longterm controllable acquisitions like Cole [Hamels] and down the line. It's still not my preference, but I'd be open to it."
The Rangers are finding clubs are asking a steep price for starting pitching. Sale may be the most expensive pitcher on the market, but he has also been suspended five days by the White Sox for Saturday's clubhouse incident.
A rental player refers to one who can be a free agent after the season. Under the changes in the Collective Bargaining Agreement, clubs can no longer tender a qualifying offer to a player traded during the season and get compensation if he signs elsewhere. So basically a club is "renting" the player for the final two months of the season and postseason.
Padres right-hander Andrew Cashner is the one rental player who has been rumored to be of interest to the Rangers. Other pitchers in that category include Athletics left-hander Rich Hill and Phillies right-hander Jeremy Hellickson.
The Rangers still hope to get right-hander Colby Lewis and lefty Derek Holland back in late August. Both are on the 60-day disabled list. Holland is eligible to come off on Aug. 20 and Lewis the next day.
The Rangers still have Kyle Lohse as their fifth starter, and he is tentatively scheduled for Tuesday against the Athletics.
Schedule about to change
The Rangers are finishing up a stretch of having played 29 of their last 38 games on the road. That's about to change on Monday. The Rangers play 37 of their final 63 games in Arlington.
"We still have to play good," Rangers manager Jeff Banister said. "But it's a challenge to win on the road. The last at-bat is a challenge in itself. When you flip that, it's a big plus playing at home."
Rangers pitcher Martin Pérez, who starts on Monday, can appreciate more than anybody the thought of pitching at home. His last four starts and six of his last seven have been on the road.
Perez is 6-1 with a 2.48 ERA in nine starts at Globe Life Park. That's the second-lowest home ERA in the American League. He is 1-6 with a 5.95 ERA in 11 starts on the road. That's also the second-highest road ERA in the league.
"I'm ready to go back to Texas, pitch in front of my people and my fans, and see what happens," Perez said.
Rangers beat
• Outfielder Drew Stubbs, who has been sidelined since May 22 with a sprained joint in his left foot, is expected to begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Round Rock on Tuesday. Stubbs has been working out in Surprise, Ariz., and is waiting final clearance.
• Tanner Scheppers, still recovering from surgery on his left knee, is throwing live batting practice in Surprise.
• Veteran reliever Craig Breslow has signed a Triple-A contract with the Rangers and has been assigned to Round Rock. He was 0-2 with a 4.50 ERA in 15 games with the Marlins this season before being released from their Triple-A affiliate on Monday. He has appeared in 539 games over all or parts of 11 seasons in the Majors with seven different organizations.