Report: Rangers among teams with legitimate interest in Jon Gray

The Texas Rangers are among the teams showing legitimate interest in free-agent right-hander Jon Gray, sources told Mark Feinsand of MLB.com.

Gray is considered a candidate to sign a deal within the next week, and Steven Matz's four-year, $44-million contract with the St. Louis Cardinals could serve as a comparable, Jon Morosi of MLB Network adds.

The Rangers are in the midst of a rebuild but have committed to adding payroll this winter; they could reportedly tack on as much as $100 million.

Gray, 30, has spent the last seven seasons with the Colorado Rockies after they drafted him third overall in the 2013 MLB Draft. Colorado didn't tender him a one-year, $18.4-million qualifying offer after he authored a 4.59 ERA and 4.22 FIP over 149 innings in 29 starts last season, so any team can sign Gray without surrendering draft-pick compensation.

Gray owns a 4.59 ERA and 3.91 FIP over 152 career MLB games. He's coughed up 55 home runs in 75 appearances at hitter-friendly Coors Field and surrendered 50 round-trippers in 77 road games.

The Detroit Tigers were rumored to be in the running for Gray's services earlier in November, but they've since added left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez on a five-year, $77-million contract.