The Texas Rangers, Pittsburgh Pirates and San Diego Padres are among the teams pursuing free-agent starter Shaun Marcum, according to major-league sources.

Marcum went 7-4 with a 3.70 ERA in 21 starts for Milwaukee during an injury-shortened 2012 season. But he finished healthy, making three consecutive quality starts to end the year.

The Rangers have made no secret of their need for a starting pitcher, particularly considering they may part with a young starter if the long-awaited trade for Arizona’s Justin Upton is consummated. Marcum has proven that he can succeed in a hitter-friendly American League ballpark, going 37-25 with a 3.85 ERA in nearly 600 innings with the Toronto Blue Jays from 2005 through 2010.

The Pirates’ interest in Marcum is a sign that they aren’t completely confident they will finalize their agreement with free agent left-hander Francisco Liriano. The Pirates and Liriano appeared to have a two-year deal before he injured his right arm during the offseason.

The Padres have been looking for a starting pitcher for most of the offseason; they would like to add an experienced arm to what could be a very young rotation.

-- Jon Paul Morosi