Texas Rangers

Rangers agree with Dustin Nippert, invite six to camp

The Rangers avoided arbitration with Dustin Nippert Friday, agreeing to a one year, $665,0000 deal. The team is also inviting catcher Emerson Frostad, left-handed pitcher Kasey Kiker, first baseman/outfielder Mitch Moreland, right-handed pitcher Tanner Scheppers, first baseman Justin Smoak, and first baseman/outfielder Chad Tracy is the major league camp. None of the six are on the 40-man roster.

- Anthony Andro

Brandon McCarthy agrees to 2010 deal

The club avoided arbitration with the right-hander, agreeing to terms with him on a one-year contract for $1,320,000. The Rangers still have six players eligible for arbitration - Scott Feldman, Frank Francisco, Josh Hamilton, Dustin Nippert, Chris Ray and C.J. Wilson.

- Anthony Andro

With just more than 24 hours to go, not even Nolan Ryan knows what will happen

Nolan Ryan was inducted into the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame on Thursday night in the Stockyards. By late Friday, he could be a minority owner of the Texas Rangers.

But with just more than 24 hours remaining until the end of the 30-day window of exclusive negotiations to purchase the club from Hicks Sports Group, Ryan said he has no idea what's going to happen with the sale.

Ryan said he has left all the heavy lifting to partner Chuck Greenberg, has been in town since Monday working toward a definitive agreement.

The exclusive period ends at midnight. At 12:01 a.m. Saturday, if a deal hasn't been reached, Tom Hicks could open the bidding again. That remains a very real possibility, even though it would do nothing positive for the Rangers and would further antagonize fans.

It's assumed that Hicks would first turn to Houston businessman Jim Crane, who was believed to be the front-runner entering Dec. 15. That was the day that Hicks selected Greenberg-Ryan for exclusive negotiations. Crane has always had money and might be willing to pony up more.

Major League Baseball might put its foot down and tell Hicks to get a deal done with Greenberg-Ryan. The 40 lenders who hold the HSG debt might demand more money.

As of Thursday, Ryan didn't know what was going to happen with the sale of the Rangers.

A deal between Greenberg-Ryan and Hicks could be reached. Hicks could turn to someone else. It might not be until Saturday when a decision is announced. One thing is known for sure -- it will be a tense and interesting next 26 hours.

-- Jeff Wilson

Your 2010 promotional schedule

April

5 Opening Day Magnetic Schedule

(21 and older)

7 $1 Hot Dog Night, Autograph Wednesday

9 Fantastic Fireworks Friday

10 Rangers Calendar

 (First 25,000), Clint Black Post-Game Concert

11 Ian Kinsler Cap

(First 20,000)

23 Fantastic Fireworks Friday

24 Elvis Andrus Bobblehead

(First 20,000), Third Day Pre-Game Concert

25 Elvis Andrus Red Jersey

(First 8,500, 13 & under)

28 $1 Hot Dog Night, Autograph Wednesday

29 Wildlife Education Day with the Dallas Zoo

May

7 Fantastic Fireworks Friday

8 Michael Young Red Jersey

(First 8,500, 13 & under)

9 Mother’s Day Reusable Bag

(First 15,000, 14 & older)

12 $1 Hot Dog Night, Autograph Wednesday

13 CBS 11 Weather Day and Six Flags Over Texas Tickets

(First 7,500, 13 & under)

19 $1 Hot Dog Night, Autograph Wednesday,

21 Fantastic Fireworks Friday

22 Post-Game Concert

23 Rangers Pillowcase

(First 8,500, 13 & under)

June

4 Fantastic Fireworks Friday

5 Red TEXAS T-shirt

(First 20,000, 14 & older)

6 Ian Kinsler Red Jersey

(First 8,500, 13 & under)

9 $1 Hot Dog Night, Autograph Wednesday

(Ages 13 & under)

23 $1 Hot Dog Night, Autograph Wednesday

(Ages 13 & under)

25 Fantastic Fireworks Friday

26 Fiesta Dip & Chips Platter

(First 20,000, 14 & older), Post-Game

Concert

27 Los Tigres del Norte (5:00 p.m.)

July

2 Fantastic Fireworks Friday

3 Rangers Patriotic Cap

(First 20,000)

4 Independence Day Fireworks Show

7 $1 Hot Dog Night, Autograph Wednesday

(Ages 13 & under)

9 Fantastic Fireworks Friday

10 Michael Young Cap Day

(First 20,000)

11 Texas Rangers All-Star T-shirt

(First 20,000)

23 Fantastic Fireworks Friday and Rangers Chatter Bats

(First 15,000)

24 Post-Game Concert

28 $1 Hot Dog Night, Autograph Wednesday

(Ages 13 & under)

August

13 Fantastic Fireworks Friday

25 $1 Hot Dog Night, Autograph Wednesday

27 Fantastic Fireworks Friday

28 Rangers T-shirt (

First 8,500, 13 & under), Mercy Me Pre-Game Concert

29 Rangrers Chest Protector Backpack

(First 8,500, 13 & under)

September

10 Fantastic Fireworks Friday

15 $1 Hot Dog Night, Autograph Wednesday

October

1 Fantastic Fireworks Friday

3 Fan Appreciation Day

Most ticket prices unchanged in 2010

Most ticket prices for the Texas Rangers will remain unchanged in 2010, the club announced today. The exceptions are corner box seats ($33 to $40) and lower reserved seats ($25 to $30).

 

Tickets for premier games will be more expensive.

 

Premier games include Opening Day against the Toronto Blue Jays (April 5) and games aginst the Chicago Cubs (May 21-23), Tampa Bay Rays (June 5), Houston Astros (June 25-26), Chicago White Sox (July 3-4), Baltimore Orioles (July 10), Los Angeles Angels (July 24), New York Yankees (Aug. 10-11), Boston Red Sox (Aug. 13-15) and the Yankees (Sept. 10-12).

 

The club also added discounts for active and retired members of the armed forces (Military Mondays) and for fans 65 and older (Active Seniors Thursday). Other discounts return from 2009, including Coca-Cola Family Tickets, All You Can Eat Seats and Fireworks Fridays.

 

Individual tickets will go on sale at 9 a.m. March 6 at the first base ticket office at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington, at texasrangers.com, or by phone at 972-726-4377.

 

Here’s the link for the details on ticket prices:

 

http://texas.rangers.mlb.com/news/press_releases/press_release.jsp?ymd=20100114&content_id=7916842&vkey=pr_tex&fext=.jsp&c_id=tex

Khalil Greene is still coming

The Rangers haven't made a formal annoucement on the future utility infielder for the team, but it's coming. General manager Jon Daniels is at the owner meetings and there's no rush for a formal annoucement. There are no snags in the deal for Greene, who passed his physical. The official word could come as late as next week. The cost is $750,000 for one year.

- Anthony Andro

Rangers have plan in place for Thursday's Josh Hamilton appearance

In an effort to avoid last year's crush to get a Josh Hamilton autograph, the Rangers have a new policy in place for Thursday night's town hall meeting in Plano. Here's the release and details on how to get autographs from both Hamilton and David Murphy.

The Texas Rangers today announced the details for the team’s Town Hall and Autograph Session at the Academy Sports + Outdoors location, 3305 Dallas Parkway in Plano on THURSDAY, JANUARY 14.

Rangers outfielders Josh Hamilton and David Murphy will sign autographs from 6:30-8:00 p.m. for a maximum of 300 fans. The autograph procedure will be as follows:

4:00 p.m.—Distribution of wristbands and autograph tickets for Murphy and Hamilton begins…PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS DISTRIBUTION WILL BE LIMITED TO THE FIRST 300 INDIVIDUALS ON A FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED BASIS.

6:00 p.m.—All individuals holding wristbands and autograph tickets for Murphy and Hamilton MUST BE IN THE AUTOGRAPH LINE. No one will be allowed to enter then autograph line after that time.

6:30 p.m.—Autograph session with David Murphy and Josh Hamilton begins.

In addition, Rangers General Manager Jon Daniels, Senior Executive Vice President and team Hall of Famer Jim Sundberg, and television announcer Tom Grieve will be available to answer questions from fans from 6:30-7:00 p.m.

The procedure for this Town Hall and Autograph Session is being adjusted in order that more fans may be accommodated in the players’ autograph line.

Vladimir Guerrero's contract breakdown

In addition to the $5.5 million he's due to receive this year, he can make another $900,000 in bonuses for days on the active roster. If both he and the Rangers agree to the mutual option in 2011, it's worth $9 million. There is a $1 million buyout if the option is not picked up.

- Anthony Andro

Michael Young on Mark McGwire

Here's what the American League All-Star had to say about Mark McGwire's steroid admission.

"I'm happy for him. He can move on and have piece of mind and do his job free of the emotional burdens that he may of had before this. He can move on now and focus on his job."

- Anthony Andro

Jon Daniels introduces Vladimir Guerrero

That pretty much says it all. Take a look for yourself.

-- Jeff Wilson