Texas Rangers

Rangers sign infielder to minor-league deal

The Rangers continue to stock up on low-risk options to be the utility infielder in 2012. They have signed Alberto Gonzalez to a minor-league deal with an invitation to spring training.

Gonzalez can play all four infield positions, but has spent the majority of his career at second base (138 games) and shortstop (124). He has played in the majors for all or part of the past five seasons for the Mets, Nationals and Padres.

Gonzalez, a Venezuelan who will turn 28 in April, has a career average of .242 in 378 games. The Rangers signed Luis Hernandez and Yangervis Solarte to minor-league deals with invitations last week, and got Greg Miclat from Baltimore on Thursday to complete the Taylor Teagarden trade.

-- Jeff Wilson

New Angels pitcher C.J. Wilson says Rangers `not even close'

C.J. Wilson was surprised that the Rangers never made a serious play for him before he ultimately landed a five-year, $77.5 million contract with the Angels. He said the Rangers discussed only parameters, and those terms were "not even close."

"There was really no comparison between the packages that were offered," said Wilson, who also had a six-year offer from Miami.

Wilson's news is a big story locally, but he is playing second fiddle Thursday to the news that the Angels also signed first baseman Albert Pujols to a 10-year, $250 million contract. Wilson said the balance of power in the American League West has shifted to the Angels.

The Rangers, meanwhile, are staying that they like the club as it's constructed and will continue to get better the rest of the off-season. But they won't stray from their business model to do so, which likely means that Prince Fielder is not on their radar. The biggest focus remains retaining core players like Josh Hamilton, Ian Kinsler and Nelson Cruz and not trading away prospects who the  Ranger sfeel can become impact big leaguers.

"We're not looking to bring in a guy that's going to lead us to break up what we've got," general manager Jon Daniels said.

-- Jeff Wilson

 

Rangers update from winter meetings: Moreland, Teagarden trade, Rule 5 Draft

It's been a busy morning in the final day of the winter meetings at the Hilton Anatole. All the talk, of course, is on the Anaheim Angels signing free agents Albert Pujols and C.J. Wilson. They are clearly making a push to move back atop the AL West.

The Rangers, meanwhile, have been going about their business, and were prepared for Wilson to land elsewhere. General manager Jon Daniels said the team doesn't view the Angels' signings as "punch, counterpunch."

With that being said, Daniels and the Rangers are planning on Mitch Moreland being the starting first baseman at the beginning of the 2012 season.

Here are a few other notes from the Rangers:

* The Rangers completed the Taylor Teagarden trade with the Baltimore Orioles. The player to be named later was infielder Greg Miclat, who spent last season at Double A. Miclat, a 24-year-old switch hitter, batted .280 with two home runs and 24 RBIs in 120 games with Double A Bowie last season. He will not be placed on the 40-man roster, although he is expected to get an invitation to big league spring training.

* The Rangers selected three players in the Triple A phase of the Rule 5 Draft -- left-hander Fabian Williamson from the Oakland organization; outfielder Efrain Nunez from the Seattle organization; and infielder Alex Buccholz from the Cincinnati organization.

-- Drew Davison

 

Wilson decision expected on final day of winter meetings

The Rule 5 draft is minutes away, which means the winter meetings are almost over. All that's left to be done after that, apparently, is for C.J. Wilson to make his decision.

The Rangers, who have been deemed out of the running though not told so, would rather see Wilson sign with Miami than Anaheim. If he isn't going to re-sign with them, at least get him out of the American League -- even if the draft-pick compensation isn't as good.

The Rangers haven't been paralyzed by the Wilson decision. They have met with Scott Boras, agent to Michael Gonzalez and, on a much grander scale, Prince Fielder. Both players were discussed during the Wednesday meeting.

Gonzalez is the far more likely signing. Fielder, as Nolan Ryan said, doesn't fit the Rangers' budget.

Yu Darvish might not either, because of the posting system that requires teams to bid for the right to negotiate a contract. The total dollars could hit $100 million for Darvish, if everything follows Daisuke Matsuzaka's entry into the major leagues. The Matsuzaka flame out, though, could lead teams to be cautious, but Darvish's status as a better prospect could make teams run wild.

Many Rangers executives, including general manager Jon Daniels, have put their eyes on Darvish. Yet, on Wednesday, Daniels almost acted like he'd never heard of him.

"What I know you know because it's off Twitter," Daniels responded when asked if the Darvish picture had become any clearer. It had by bed time, when it was reported that Darvish would be posted by the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters. That's Yoshinori Tateyama's team, and, yes, Darvish and Tateyama are buddies.

As the Wilson drama comes to an expected end today, perhaps a Darvish drama will begin.

-- Jeff Wilson

Rangers braced for Wilson to sign elsewhere

General manager Jon Daniels said that the Rangers are prepared to see C.J. Wilson head to either Anaheim or Miami, and have not met with agent Bob Garber today and have no plans to do so tonight.

But if he calls with news that Wilson won't re-sign with them, "I think we're prepared for that call."

Daniels said that he will take a meeting with Garber if one is requested, but for now it appears the Rangers will leave the winter meetings without acquiring a front-line starting pitcher. Daniels, though, said that there is plenty of time in the off-season for a trade to develop, but he is comfortable taking the current five in the rotation to spring training.

"The large part of the reason we made the move with Nathan and Feliz is because we know how hard it is to acquire that kind of guy," Daniels said. "All it does is reinforce the need to develop your own."

-- Jeff Wilson

Six-year offer to C.J. Wilson could end Rangers' chances

Various media outlets are reporting that the Miami Marlins have offered C.J. Wilson a contract for six years, a barrier that the Rangers are not willing to break for the free-agent left-hander.

Team president Nolan Ryan has never been in favor of anything beyond five years for a starting pitcher, and he's queasy with that many years. Yes, that includes for Cliff Lee last year.

Wilson said on Tuesday that the most lucrative offer won't necessarily be the one that wins him over. The Marlins gave him the A-list treatment last week during his visit to Miami, and the addition of shortstop Jose Reyes and move of Hanley Ramirez to third base could give the Marlins the strong left side of the infield that Wilson wants on his next team.

But he has also maintained that he wants to return to the Rangers, who might have the best third baseman/shortstop combo in the game. He feels his job is undone after the Rangers fell short in the past two World Series. He also loves his teammates and has strong ties to the community.

But the window for a hometown discount has passed. If Wilson selects the Rangers' offer of five years, it will be because he feels they offer the best situation for the remainder of his career.

The Rangers, meanwhile, met with Mark Buehrle's agent Tuesday night, but his market has also taken off. Roy Oswalt is said to want a three-year deal, and the Rangers have concerns about going that long on a pitcher with a bad back.

Neftali Feliz and the four returning starters to the rotation from 2011 could very well be the group the Rangers take to spring training in February.

-- Jeff Wilson

 

 

 

 

Rangers out on Prince Fielder

The Rangers make it a point to consider all options for improving the team, and, yes, that included looking at free-agent first basemen this year. But Prince Fielder is not on the Rangers' radar, said three club officials.

Several reports have the Rangers actively pursuing Fielder, but the Rangers don't believe he fits in their budget. Even though the new ownership group has shown a willingness to spend, the Rangers' front office is still mindful of staying within a budget. With many players on the roster approaching free agency -- Josh Hamilton being a biggie -- signing Fielder would likely prevent the Rangers from keeping core players.

Nolan Ryan said that the Rangers are committed to Mitch Moreland and believe that he can still develop into a quality big-league first baseman. He's also an affordable option. Fielder is not, and the Rangers are not actively pursuing him.

-- Jeff Wilson

 

Winter meetings Day 3: Something's got to give, right?

The final full day of the winter meetings is under way with most of the talk centered around the Albert Pujols Sweepstakes. Relative to that Twitter mayhem, the C.J. Wilson Sweepstakes clearly is a fight on the undercard.

Rangers brass appear to be fighting the good fight for the left-hander. But one of the cornermen at ringside -- i.e. a major-league source -- said overnight that his sense is that the Angels will ultimately land Wilson.

The Angels reportedly spent Tuesday trying to woo Wilson and Pujols, a pair of signings that would make them favorites in the AL West in 2012. It would also push their payroll into the land of the Yankees and Red Sox, and neither Pujols or Wilson would be making the most money on the team next season. Anyone think the Angels aren't really, really regretting the Vernon Wells ($63 million over the next three years) trade right now?

One thing that is key for Wilson as he makes his decision is for his next team to have a strong left side of the infield. The Angels have shortstop Erick Aybar, who won the Gold Glove for 2011. Third base in Anaheim, though, is a mystery. Mark Trumbo, who played first base as a rookie, could be moved to third, and the Angels have been linked to free agent Aramis Ramirez. Neither is Adrian Beltre.

Rangers general manager Jon Daniels was asked Tuesday what the options are if the Rangers miss out on Wilson. There are a few free agents, perhaps some trade opportunites, but high on the short list of possibilities is going with the pitchers currently on the roster.

So, the Rangers have likely asked themselves questions such as: Is Mark Buehrle really that much better than, say, Matt Harrison? Or, is a package of (pure speculation ahead) Mike Olt, Neil Ramirez and Rougned Odor worth surrendering for John Danks or Matt Garza? Of course, they've already asked and answered how far they are willing to go on Wilson (not six years).

Answers are ahead. Perhaps some of them will come today during Day 3 of the winter meetings.

-- Jeff Wilson

Hamilton, Rangers discuss support network

Josh Hamilton is more than happy to see Johnny Narron land a big league hitting job. Narron was named the Milwaukee Brewers hitting coach earlier this offseason, leaving the Rangers after four seasons as a special assignments coach.

One of Narron's main jobs was as a member of Hamilton’s support network, making sure Hamilton didn’t relapse during the season. Now, Hamilton and the Rangers are working towards finding a possible replacement for Narron, although Hamilton feels he is in a better place than when he was acquired four years ago.

“I don’t feel like I need somebody,” Hamilton said. “At the same time, if it adds confidence for me, the Rangers or Major League Baseball or the fans or whoever to have somebody, yeah, I’m all for it.

“I don’t ever get comfortable. I keep my safeguards where they are, and surround myself with people who want to see me succeed and do well.”

Hamilton met with Rangers general manager Jon Daniels over the weekend, and both are on the same page.

“Josh is in a different place than he was when we acquired him,” Daniels said. “We just don’t want to take anything for granted, and neither do Josh and Katie [Hamilton, his wife].”

-- Drew Davison

Rangers' first focus is C.J. Wilson

An afternoon of discussions among Rangers executives has produced the notion that if the money per year is going to be the same to sign C.J. Wilson as it would be Mark Buehrle, the Rangers should attempt to first pursue Wilson.

The problem then becomes the length of the contract. The Rangers would not be willing to make a six-year offer to re-sign Wilson, even if that allows him to go to the Angels. Buehrle is expected to command fewer years, perhaps as few as three.

Though some in the organization prefer Buehrle (long track record, veteran presence, quick worker, strike thrower, quality fielder), others believe that Wilson has better stuff and as a still-developing starter has a chance to be better than he has shown in his two years in the rotation.

General manager Jon Daniels and agent Bob Garber will meet tonight after the Rangers wrap up their affiliates dinner.

"He might get an offer he can't refuse tonight, and vice versa we might get an opportunity we can't refuse," Daniels said. "We've just agreed to stay in touch, keep each other posted and keep the dialogue going. We're not holding him up, and he's not holding us up."

A report surfaced around 7 p.m. saying the Rangers had offered Wilson four years at $60 million, but Garber quickly shot it down, calling the report "fabricated."

-- Jeff Wilson