The Rangers are reportedly interested in a trade for the Tigers’ Rick Porcello. (Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)

The Texas Rangers have asked the Detroit Tigers about a potential trade for starting pitcher Rick Porcello, according to a report from ESPN New York’s Adam Rubin.

The Rangers are looking for a fifth starter to round out their rotation, and they have been unimpressed with their own candidates during spring training. On Sunday, 24-year-old right-hander Justin Grimm struggled, and 21-year-old Martin Perez fractured a bone in his forearm that will sideline him for four weeks.

Porcello’s name has been involved in trade rumors since the Tigers re-signed Anibal Sanchez in the offseason.

A highly touted prospect, Porcello has failed to live up to the hype that surrounded him upon his ascension to the majors in 2009. He has a career record of 48-42 with a 4.55 ERA, including a 10-12 record and 4.59 ERA last season.

But Porcello also induced the sixth-most ground balls in the majors last season (51.4 percent), leading to a wide assumption that his numbers would look much better if he had a more reliable defense behind him.

Rick Porcello allowed the most hits (226) among American League pitchers last season. (Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)

Three teams have contacted the Tigers to inquire about pitcher Rick Porcello, according to major-league sources in a report by Jon Morosi of Fox Sports.

The Mariners and Orioles are believed to be the most interested teams, with the Padres also kicking the tires on the right-hander.

It’s widely believed that Porcello could improve on last year’s numbers — 10-12,  4.59 ERA — if he pitched on a team fielding a better infield defense behind him. Just five qualifying American League pitchers induced more ground balls than Porcello (51.4 percent) last year, despite the Tigers’ lack of infielders with better than average range. Porcello coaxed 314 ground balls — 1.73 per inning and 10.15 per start — in 182 innings pitched last season. The Tigers still managed to record a putout, double play or fielder’s choice on 72.6 percent of those ground balls with Porcello on the mound. He also allowed the most hits (226) among AL pitchers last season.

Interested teams are also aware that Porcello, who will turn 24 next week, doesn’t come up for free agency until after the 2015 season and has improved on his strikeout-to-walk and home-runs allowed ratio in each year of his career.

Detroit’s re-signing of Anibal Sanchez raised speculation that the Tigers were willing to listen to offers for Porcello. The Tigers are believed to be interested in a right-handed outfield bat and late-inning relief pitcher in talks for Porcello.

The Detroit Tigers and pitchers Phil Coke and Rick Porcello have agreed to contracts, according to MLB.com. Both players were arbitration-eligible.

Porcello agreed to a deal worth $3.1 million, while Coke signed a $1.1 million contract.

After going 24-21 in his first two seasons in the big leagues, Porcello finished last season 14-9 in 31 starts. Coke started 14 games a season ago, but did most of his work out of the bullpen.