Rangers take weekend series loss to do some scouting, apparently

Charles Beltran, Esq.

The Texas Rangers lost a series to the New York Mets.

And, yes, the umpires did screw them. Royally. I hate blaming officials for everything, but that was atrocious. You shouldn't have to make that pitch when you've already made it.

Moving on.

Some good did come out of that. Other than Lucas Duda's slugging percentage, the Rangers were eyeing outfielder Carlos Beltran and reliever Francisco Rodriguez.

Rodriguez pitched once -- Sunday -- over the weekend and was roughed up for two runs. He's got a 3.65 ERA and a .271 BAA. Still, he's converted 20 saves and struck a batter out per inning. And, he beats up his father-in-law. Cheerful!

Beltran's been the bane of the New York Mets faithful (outside of Bernie Madoff, of course) since signing that seven-year, $119 million deal in 2005. He hasn't played 100 games in two years. He's having a fine year now batting .278 with 49 RBI (five against the Rangers).

This is Beltran's final year of that contract and Mets are in semi-retreat already double-digit games out of the division lead, which is going to go to the Philadelphia Phillies, sooner or later.

Rodriguez is just 29, but he's been beaten up (so to speak) on the field and off. He's in the final year of a three-year, $37 million deal with a team option for 2012 totaling ... wait for it ... $17.5 million (!!!), which automatically vests if Rodriguez "finishes" 100 games between 2010-11 or 55 games in 2011 (there is a $3.5 million buyout). By "finished," I assume they mean saved. With 55 saves this season and the unliklihood of him getting 55 this year, that year won't vest.

Rodriguez would go into the eighth or ninth inning role, depending on Neftali Feliz' ability to get outs. He's be a big, ballsy arm in the bullpen, exactly what the Rangers need.

Beltran, I would assume, would be the everyday centerfielder with Josh Hamilton in left and Nelson Cruz in right. This leaves Dave Murphy, Julio Borbon, Craig Gentry and Endy Chavez on the bench or stuck in the minors. Beltran's also a handy switch hitter, although he's better from the left side of the plate. That's a lot of tools in the outfield if this should come down.

Love the Rangers being in the rumor mill. It's quality stuff.

For whom the Heath Bell tolls

Ring-ding-dong

I'm sure that headline's NEVER been written.

It's late-May and the trade rumors are already out there. Yesterday, the Rangers were one of several teams that it appears have called the San Diego Padres about closer Heath Bell.

It makes so much sense that it makes me throw up in my mouth.

MLB Trade Rumors discussed Bell's trade value.

Bell is a 33-year-old 6-3 righty badass and the only consistently good to great piece of a sad-sack San Diego Padres team.

For the last six years, you'd be hard pressed to find a better bullpen hand. He set up for Trevor Hoffman for two years and has served as closer the last three years.

He's just as good this season with a 2.00 ERA and hitters have a .209 average against him. But his strikeouts are down to 6.4 per nine innings. The difference is that his groundball percentage is up to 54 percent. His fastball is still good at 93 mph, on average.

What drives up his value is his success, demand (at least four times off the top of your head would be interested) and he's arbitration eligible and would get you two draft picks if he walks.

What drives down his value is his relative lack of time he might spend with a club. You might have him for half a season. I would suspect the Rangers would try to keep him if they should trade for him, especially if the goal is to still move Neftali Feliz to the rotation next season.

He's not a spring chicken (although 33 is not old) and he's also not cheap. He's due $7.5 million this season.

Obviously, is the same ol' song and dance here. A team will give up better prospects if the Padres would be willing to pay some of that deal. Or the Padres could just keep him, offer arbitration and let him walk for the draft picks.

I would find it unlikely the Padres would trade him without getting a top 10 organizational prospect, not top five, but top 10.

Regardless, the Rangers have to make this happen. For this season and for the next three or four. He's a guy you can put in the back end of the bullpen and let ride through his mid-30s as this team rides this crest of success and youth.

Pistons slap Mavericks' offer for Tayshaun Prince to midcourt

Princely

Allegedly, the Mavericks offered Caron Butler's corpse and expiring contract and the 2011 first-round pick for the Pistons' Tayshaun Prince.

Prince, also, has an expiring deal. The contracts are almost identical. The Pistons would essentially get a bad draft pick (in the 20s, which you could make work, but isn't great).

I don't know why the Pistons wouldn't bite other than not pissing Prince off and possibly re-signing him in the off-season.

The Mavericks also went after the Nuggets' J.R. Smith, but I don't think the Nuggets were into any more moves unless someone knocked their socks off.

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Everyone is seemingly in too far in love with Caron Butler. They typical issuance is that "He's not a superstar, but he's a piece to the puzzle."

The NBA is no longer a league where you have a superstar and pieces. You need two or three superstars and good, respectable role players.

The Mavericks have one superstar. A couple of pieces. And some junk.

Squashing the Steve-Nash-to-Dallas talk

Getting Nash-ty

I think there's a select few Dallas-Fort Worth media members that really know basketball. It's a short list that includes Skin and Junior Miller.

Otherwise, I think the collective basketball IQ is the lowest for any city in the United States.

The Steve-Nash-to-Dallas trade rumors are making me throw up in my mouth. Mostly because it appears the only reason people find this interesting is because it will re-pair Nash with buddy Dirk Nowitzki.

Seriously? Is no one serious about winning an NBA title around here?

Here's a cold-hard fact about Steve Nash and the Mavericks:

THE MAVERICKS DO NOT WIN AN NBA TITLE WITH STEVE NASH!

This doesn't make Steve Nash not great. He is great and he meant everything to the Phoenix Suns. Maybe. Doesn't seem they're doing too hot without Amare Stoudemire. But that's besides the point.

Steve Nash is everything that is wrong with the Dallas Mavericks. They're soft and they don't play defense. That's Steve Nash. Again, it doesn't make him bad or even remotely not good. It's just who he is and, as evidenced by Stoudemire's departure and the Suns' freefall, Nash is no good to a team without some lead dogs.

Do you think Nash is playing stop-down defense in the Finals on Dwayne Wade in the Finals? Hell no.

Also, how many over-the-hill, defensive liabilities at point guard does one team need? Isn't Jason Kidd enough?

This rumor is beyond ridiculous. It's like the Dallas Cowboys trading for Tony Gonzalez or the Rangers going after Hanely Ramirez to play shortstop.

This team needs lean, long, athletic, young black guys on their team. Mean dudes that go to the rim and take shit off no one. They need winners. They need someone that's going to step in front of Tony Parker or Kobe Bryant and make him play his nuts off for 42 minutes for 18 points in a playoff game.

Steve Nash is none of those things.

To put the dumb cherry on the dumbass trade rumor, the very thought of including this team's two best -- AND ONLY -- trade chips (Caron Butler's deal and Roddy Beaubois) in a deal for Grant Hill and Nash certifies that the world is officially topsy-turvy.

Steve Nash means first-round exit. Period.

Thursday morning grab ass bag

Hope this makes it a good day

The Dallas Stars lost, again, 2-1 to the Phoenix Coyotes and are now in a dead heat for the Pacific Division. The surging San Jose Sharks have gone 9-0-1 and are tied atop the division. In fact, the Stars are just six points out of last in the division.

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Wisconsin wanted a rematch of the Rose Bowl with TCU next year. TCU balked at it. TCU has nothing to gain there and leave it to a big school to want a rematch after getting beat.

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The Dallas Mavericks are the worst-best team in the NBA. They win. They win a lot. Ten straight. Beat the Sacramento Kings 102-100. But they can't blow out bad teams. It kills them. They were up on the Kings by 19 in the first half and needed 15 points from J.J. Barea in the fourth to win the damn thing. The Mavericks are posers and nothing short of overhauling the entire line-up will help.

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The Philadelphia Phillies and Texas Rangers chatted about Michael Young. He isn't going anywhere.

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Mike Hindman goes off on Young.

Mike Young's unfortunate tongue

Public relations not in Mike Young's vocabulary

I don't understand why they're so much question surrounding Mike Young's very public request to be traded from the Texas Rangers.

The timeline says it all.

Jan. 27, 2011
Rangers say they are not looking to trade Mike Young.

Feb. 5, 2011
Ken Rosenthal reports that the Rangers are, again, looking to trade Mike Young.

Feb. 8, 2011
Mike Young reaches out to the media. Takes jabs at GM Jon Daniels. Admits he's asked the Rangers for a trade. Say he's been "misled" and "manipulated."

It's documented. It's real. It happened. It's not about Mike Napoli or Adrian Beltre. It's not about necessarily being a designated hitter or utility infielder.

In the span of 12 days, it has been made public that Mike Young was not going to be traded and that he was going to be traded.

I don't blame Young one bit. I'd be a bit pissed, too. On the other hand, if I'm the Rangers, I'm pissed that Young took such a adolescent route toward getting his end.

Some facts:

This Isn't The First Time Young's Spouted Off To The Media
Remember all the fussing he did when the Rangers did nothing at all those trade deadlines as Mark Teixeira and others were traded off? Remember ASKING FOR A TRADE when Elvis Andrus was added to the starting-day roster? I do not know who his agent is or who is advising him, but Mike Young has shit for brains concerning how to handle things. It seems he goes to the media at the first sign of agitation and it not only grows old among the fans, but it pisses off your boss(es).

Young's Contract Should Not Be A Thing
No one put a gun to the Rangers' head to give Young a five-year, $80 million deal in 2007. And no one should blame Young for taking it. The idea that he shouldn't bitch because he's "making $16 million a year on a World Series team" is ridiculous. Tony Romo or Dirk Nowitzki would not be treated like this if they complained. Everyone knew that contract would be a lead weight on this organization when it happened.

Young Royally Screwed The Organization
What leverage the Rangers had is gone.

The Misnomer Of 'Face Of The Franchise'
As I recall, Young never adopted or called for the crown of "face of the franchise." He's a guy that brought his bat and ball glove to the park. Got his hits. Spoke to the media. He's the "leader" only because the Rangers gave him a big contract and because he's the elder statesmen. That's it. Young is not unlike any other ball player. He wants on the field. And he's not unlike your or me: He doesn't want to be jerked around by his employer.

Young Is Virtually Untradeable
Consider that he's erased all leverage the Rangers had and he's under contract for three years. The Rangers don't have to trade him. His highest value and highest opportunity is with Texas. He's due $28 million over the next three seasons. The Rangers don't have strong trade partners at the moment. They won't get anyone decent and they'll have to pay at least part of his contract. What's the downside? Him being bitter at Daniels? Boo hoo.

Young Will Be A Texas Ranger At Least Until July
As stated, Young likes to spout off at the mouth. He also gets talked down from many ledges over the years. He has a good contract on a good, young team. He hits well at the Ballpark and more trade partners (hopefully, more desperate trade partners) will be around mid-season.

Michael Young and the Texas Rangers

Behind the scenes

In late January, the Texas Rangers came out publicly to reiterate that they were not trading Michael Young.

A week later, rumors starting flying that the Texas Rangers-Colorado Rockies deal that boiled over during the winter meetings was back in the works.

The question right now isn't who the Rangers get in return or whether or not the trade goes through.

The question: Can the Rangers, at this point, keep Michael Young?

If you want to trade the guy, then don't come out every month and tell us how you're not going to trade him. I think that's unfair to the fans and Michael Young.

It's clear the Rangers are shopping Young. I assume they want to get younger and cheaper for a designated hitter-utility infielder. Why they're still denying it is a mystery.

I think Young wants to be here and I think trying to trade him is a big mistake. You signed him to that contract. Why not play him? You can't have enough reliable bats in the line-up and I think he could have further value mid-season when teams need someone like Mike Young to play any number of positions. Or, the Rangers might actually need him.

At this point, I don't know if the Rangers and Young can really go back. How do you start the season getting constant reassurance, all the while, your employer is trying and trying to get rid of you? Just seems like bad, shady business.

Going for it

Passing the Artest

If the Dallas Mavericks want to make a splash and officially throw their names in the NBA Title hat, there are suddenly two names that can do that.

ESPN's Marc Stein reported that Los Angeles Laker Ron Artest wants to be traded. It's already been refuted. Still, might not matter. Because the other rumor flying around is that the Lakers want to shake things up.

Artest, 31, is a certified nut. Still, he brings an edge that you can't buy or teach. He's a natural small forward that can D up like no one the Mavericks have ever had in the Dirk Nowitzki era.

Offensively, Artest has never been a guy you go to in your last possession needing a basket. His offensive and rebounding numbers are all down this season. He's having an all-around awful season.

Artest is due about $29 million over the next four seasons. He does have a player option in 2012-13. His salary rises to about $7 million in 2013-14 when he'll be about 34 years old.

Considering his age, dwindling performance and contract, I doubt it would take too much to get Artest. Then again, the Lakers turned poop into Pau Gasol.

The hottest rumor is that Mark Cuban has no problem "renting" a player if it means it gives them an awesome chance to win an NBA title.

This obviously means Carmelo Anthony.

The Denver Nuggets' attempts to trade their free-agent-to-be small forward have been well documented. The New Jersey Nets want him only if he'll agree to an extension. He wants to be a New York Knick.

The Mavericks apparently have no problem being the bridge between the two teams over the summer as long as it gives Dirk Nowitzki a shot at a title.

Going to be honest: This would be awesome and it would have to put them on a plane unrealized with a starting line-up of 'Melo, Dirk, Jason Kidd, Tyson Chandler and DeShawn Stevenson. It's old, it's built for 2011 only, but it might work beautifully.

Price? Starts with Roddy Beaubois. Probably. The Nets were apparently ready to ship a handful of first round picks to Nuggets. I'm sure the Mavericks would have to do the same. But a first round pick of the Nets is completely different than a first round pick of the Mavericks.

I hate mortgaging futures. But the Mavericks are screwed. Existing contracts make them good enough to compete, but old enough to be handcuffed. Also, Donnie Nelson couldn't draft jack shit. So what good are first round picks?

ESPN makes up Dez Bryant trade rumors

ESPN recommends trading Josh Hamilton too

ESPNDallas.com -- or, as I like to call it, Dallas Morning News East -- put themselves into the media spotlight after they decided to make a bunch of shit up.

The Big Lead dives headfirst into the hubbub that was the Dez Bryant trade rumors.

Apparently, Brian Broaddus went on the Ben & Skin Show (by the way, I love their charactitures because Skin has hair now and Ben is not longer fat) the other day and floated the "thought" that the Dallas Cowboys might consider trading their star receiver stud.

Then ESPNDallas.com -- notably Calvin Watkins and Tim McMahon -- took the reins and wrote ad nauseum about Bryant's availability via trade through various unnamed sources.

Then, Ben & Skin get McMahon and Watkins in to discuss the deal.

Frankly, it's irresponsible on ESPNDallas' part. I realize they're not longer in the print edition and everything's so free and easy on the Internet. However, I don't think the writers there have forgotten certain journalistic ethics that still remain pertinent to the web. Then again, Watkins has made his name with "unnamed" sources, so I shouldn't be shocked.

Two, it's retarded. The Cowboys aren't trading Bryant. Why should they? Because it was his fault the offensive line detriorated, Tony Romo was driven into the ground and the secondary blew up? No.

Also, how many times have all those blowhards railed on Jerry Jones for missing out on Randy Moss, why would you miss out again on a star receiver, a known product. Someone you know can change the face of your team.

I don't know what came over those guys. I doubt Dallas Stars talk is getting a ton of ratings. Then again, ESPN probably isn't getting a lot of ratings in Dallas-Fort Worth anyway.

Maybe they can make some more stuff up. Report on it.

The Mavericks do not need to freak out

Pushin' 'n' shovin'

I realize the Dallas Mavericks just got their doors blown off by the San Antonio Spurs 101-89 tonight.

I know the Mavericks are without Dirk Nowitzki. And then Caron Butler for the rest of the season.

It looks bleak. But the Dallas Mavericks can not freak out right now. Now is not the time to do anything drastic that will put this franchise five to 10 years back.

The Mavericks have three trade chips: Dirk Nowitzki, Caron Butler's expiring deal and Roddy Beaubois.

One is UNTOUCHABLE. Another should be untouchable. The other ...

If the Mavericks want to get another big fish at the trading deadline they are going to have to trade Nowitzki and Beaubois. Trading one is unthinkable. Mortaging the future and trading Beaubois could or would be one of the dumbest moves of the franchise.

I don't know if Beaubois is going to be any good. He might flame out or remain perpetually injured for the rest of his career.

But you trade your youngsters if you are one player away from a championship. That's the only reason. The Rangers felt they were one player away. So they traded Justin Smoak and Blake Beavan for Cliff Lee.

Do you think the Mavericks are a player away? Even when they were winning and Nowitzki and Butler were healthy, do you really think they were beating the Los Angeles Lakers and San Antonio Spurs in a playoff series?

NO WAY.

How do you suppose Jason Terry, Jason Kidd, Dirk Nowitzki and Caron Butler have improved? They haven't. Terry's the same player he was a decade ago. Kidd's regressed. Nowitzki's fantastic, but he's not going to become a big defensive presence in his 30s and Caron Butler is who he is.

The Mavericks were depending on Tyson Chandler's impact and Roddy Beaubois returning. Even then, it would be an uphill battle to take down the best of the West.

The Mavericks aren't there. Maybe if they went out and broke the piggy bank and got Carmelo Anthony. Very doubtful if they somehow lassoed Stephen Jackson, Gerald Wallace, Devin Harris or Steve Nash.

Now, Butler's a different story. I don't like Butler much and I think the Mavericks can get better and younger. If they can find a team in need of shedding payroll and can get someone that can play, then so be it. However, you're not getting anything earth-changing for Butler's expiring deal and messed up knee.

"Going for it" is not worth it if it means Beaubois. Stay calm. Stay the course.

The deal with Jim Thome

Toe-me-fa-so-la-ti-do

The beauty of the hot stove league in the Internet age is that you can almost literally see the evolution of a contract.

The prime example took place at the trading deadline when Cliff Lee's deal with the New York Yankees went south ... live, on Twitter. I felt like one of the people that would sit on a neighboring hill and view a Civil War battle.

With the hot stove league and the Internet, you see a hint turn into an idea turn into a rumor turn into talk turn into a deal.

Two weeks ago, pundits were simply floating Jim Thome's name out there as a possible addition for the Texas Rangers. It was below a whisper.

Over time, the connection's gained steam and now it's as if Thome and the Rangers were a foregone conclusion.

As we all know, this isn't the case. Too much can happen for it to not happen.

Outside of just disliking Thome as a person or if you think the Rangers will spend too much money that could be given to Josh Hamilton or C.J. Wilson in an extension, I don't see how you could hate Thome joining the Rangers.

First of all, fans would love him. Not in the same way we loved Vlad Guerrero because he'd be a part timer and Guerrero had a certain attitude that emanated into the stands. But he's a likable professional that bashes. People dig the long ball.

Two, although it seems the Rangers have an excess of lefty bats, they don't have any real "impact" bats outside of Hamilton.

I love David Murphy. I think he's way better than people give him credit for at the plate and in the field. However, I also think he's an everyday player and needs regular at-bats to build a rhthym. I don't think he's a strong bench or pinch-hit candidate. Frankly, if the Rangers found a trade partner for Murphy, I wouldn't be against this as much as I like him as a player. I don't think he fits here.

Julio Borbon's not proven himself, yet.

Thome is a guy that scares the bejesus out of your opponent any time he's at the plate. Bases empty or full. He hit .301 against righties a year ago with 19 home runs and 14 doubles. With the right-field porch at the Ballpark, he could post some pretty great numbers for 300 or so at-bats. He's an impact lefty bat.

More than anything, and as Evan Grant asutely points out, Thome is an insurance policy. If Mitch Moreland, Borbon or Murphy struggle, there's Thome.

If anyone gets injured, there's Thome. And this is due to Michael Young's adaptability. If Ian Kinsler goes out for a month, Young is the starting second baseman and Thome gets a bulk of the designated hitter swings. If Adrian Beltre gets hit by a grounder in the nuts, Young swings to third and Thome is your almost everyday DH.

Also, he fills a hole in the line-up. Let's say someone's struggling or Nelson Cruz or Beltre fail to protect Josh Hamilton, Thome could be inserted there, although I doubt this is optimal as Ron Washington would probably prefer to go lefty-righty in the middle of his line-up.

The key here is Young. He allows you to go out and bring in a pretty one-dimensional player in his current state like Thome. Also, I think finding a new home for Murphy might be in order.

Either way, it's tough not to like Thome to the Rangers.

Apocalypse nearing, Rangers and Beltre belting out apparent deal

Beltre: Manning the hot corner

I woke up this morning to a shock: A Dominican news outlet was reporting a contract agreement between the Texas Rangers and third baseman Adrian Beltre.

Considering I'd pay him $85 million to stay away, my heart sunk, but I was relieved to learn that it was an unsubstantiated report.

Still, rumors all day have swirled that a deal is in the works with the California Angels being the only real team in on Beltre.

I've stated my case on the guy. He's a contract-year player, who mails it in once he gets a deal and his cash. It's real and it's happened.

Thoughts were that Scott Boras was pushing for a five-year, $85 million deal.

With Beltre apparently in the works, thoughts then turned to Michael Young's role. Generally it's thought he'll slide into the designated hitter spot with time around the infield, including first base.

There's also thoughts he might be traded, the Colorado Rockies being a potential destination.

It's it odd that the Rangers are possibly on the verge of displacing or trading the face of their franchise and no one seems sad about it, or uncomfortable. It's like Young is Esteban German.

Another one bites the dust

Zack Greinke, in the powder blues

It came down this weekend that the Kansas City Royals traded star starter Zack Greinke to the Milwaukee Brewers for four prospects.

Plan B for the Texas Rangers is thus gone.

OK. Now what?

I honestly wasn't in love with giving Cliff Lee all that money and all those guaranteed years. I wasn't in love with giving up four high-profile prospects for a guy with social anxiety disorders.

However, it was the best move.

Chances are, Greinke would've cost the Rangers Jurickson Profar, Martin Perez and Derek Holland at the least and probably would require one other youngster.

I make that trade in a second. Prospects don't help this year. Probably don't help next year. May never help. As good as those guys look now, they have a better chance at failing than succeeding.

However, Greinke wasn't in the cards. The Royals got several Major-League ready pieces. Maybe that's what they wanted more than the unknown, yet, higher-ceilinged prospect.

It's another swing and miss for GM Jon Daniels and the new ownership group. The deepest farm system in the Majors can't give their prospects away.

Hopefully, the final response better not be Seth McClung. More like Matt Garza. Wouldn't be totally against Fausto Carmona. Again, not in love with it.

Cliff Lee fallout

As the world turns without Cliff Lee:

The Rangers did not go seven years for Cliff Lee. Fortifies my faith in the Rangers management.

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There was apparent deal in the works with Tampa Bay Rays for Matt Garza, but it fell through. I'd keep my wandering eye on this tidbit.

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Thoughts are the Rangers would look to boost the offense now with free agent cash.

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Also, there are renewed talks of pushing Neftali Feliz or Alexi Ogando to the starting rotation.

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The Rangers are also apparently in on Chien-Ming Wang on an incentive-based, low-risk deal.

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Evan Grant gives weight to my thoughts the Rangers should get Brandon Webb.

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Anyone who thinks the Cliff Lee deal is like the Lebron James fiasco, you are a dickhead.

Please, for the love of God, do not sign Adrian Beltre!

A strike ... at the Beltre

My heart sank this morning when I read a report that the Texas Rangers are "moving aggressively" on free agent third baseman Adrian Beltre.

Nothing could be worse news than that outside of a terrorist strike or the death of John Oates.

If the Rangers spend seven years and $150 million on Cliff Lee, I'll recover.

If they spend a dime and two days on Beltre, I might not.

What I don't understand is why teams don't see what I and every other baseball fan in the world sees.

ADRIAN BELTRE IS A CONTRACT-YEAR PLAYER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

What don't teams understand. Look at the stats. It's as clear as the nose on your face!

Beltre's contract years:

2004
104 runs - 200 hits - 32 2B - 48 HR - 121 RBI - .334 avg. - 1.017 OPS

2010
84 runs - 189 hits - 49 2B - 28 HR - 102 RBI - .321 avg. - .919 OPS

Career Averages
70 runs - 145 hits - 30 2B - 21 HR - 77 RBI - .275 avg. - .791 OPS

What could be more clear? That the sky is blue? That water is wet?

Beltre is the classic and insanely maddening case of a player with an immense amount of talent that could give a shit about his career except when he's about to get paid.

I wouldn't have him on my team for free. Give me Mike Young's aged and inferior effort at third base and Vlad Guerrero's crazy baserunning at designated hitter over Beltre as a peanut vendor.

MLB scuttlebutt

Hopefully the smartest and loudest man in the room

The Boston Red Sox threw seven years and $142 million at Carl Crawford. I tend to think he's kind of worth it although it would probably cause a third testicle to drop if the Rangers did that. It was rumored the Rangers probably did have talks with Crawford although I'm sure they shook hands with the agent and told him to have a nice day after the price tag was revealed.

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The New York Yankees are going to seven years for Cliff Lee. If I'm the Rangers, I offer my five years, the proximity to Arkansas and the fact that we don't spit on wives and leave to Lee. When and if he goes to New York, I regroup and move on.

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What do the Rangers say when they publicly come out to say they aren't shopping Michael Young, but then credible baseball writers are saying they are? There's been apparent talks with the California Angeles, Los Angeles Dodgers, St. Louis Cardinals and Colorado Rockies.

This, as everyone is agreeing, is a money thing. Freeing up Young's contract would give them more leeway to turn to free agent options.

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The Rule 5 Draft was held. No Rangers prospects were taken, although I think many of the candidates (Tanner Roark, Blake Beavan, Evan Reed, Tim Smith, etc.) had been used in trades the last two years.

The Rangers did grab three names, which I believe must be put on the 40-man roster or they go back to the original team. Or something like that.

The last high-profile Rule 5 pick for the Rangers was Warner Madrigal two years ago.

Mason Tobin - RHP
The 6-4, 220-pounder is 23 years old and hasn't pitched above High A. He sat out 2010 with Tommy John surgery. He hasn't thrown more than 40 professional innings since he was 19. He'll apparently get a shot at a relief spot.

Jessie Fausto Mier - C
He'll be 26 before the season starts. He'll provide some catching depth in the organization, which is sort of in flux right now.

Starling De La Rosa - LHP
Skinny (6-5, 159) Dominican entering just his third professional season in the states. He jumped from the Rookie League to High A last season. Struggled as of late, but showed some high strikeout rates before. Joins the Rangers' growing cadre of "De La Rosas" along with Miguel, Leonel and Ovispo.

Cliff Lee's latest

Fair-Lee expensive

Apparently, Cliff Lee will make a decision (considering every other free agent is waiting for him to decide as are teams looking to trade players) this weekend.

The New York Yankees have allegedly put a six-year, $130-140 million deal on the table. As we've always known, the issue ain't the money, it's the years.

Lee wants as many as he can get. At his age, 32, teams are wont to actually do that. Smart teams, at least.

Rangers president Nolan Ryan has stated that he expects the Rangers to match the six years. He's also avoiding an auction by approaching Lee and his agent and asking exactly what it will take to put him in a Rangers uniform for the next decade.

Still, it seems Ryan is prepared to get into a pissing match with the New York Yankees and, frankly, that's not good. That's how franchises are pushed back 10 years of paying off debt, trading insane contracts for 50 cents on the dollar and having to reboot because you thought Lee's shit smelled like roses.

We've seen it with Alex Rodriguez and Chan Ho Park. Aren't we still paying off A-Rod?

Tim Cowlishaw's strategy of just outbidding the Yankees to outbid the Yankees doesn't work and it has never worked. Trying to match dollar for dollar doesn't mean you're spending intelligently. For all the cash the Yanks have thrown around, they have one World Series in the last 10 years. Whereas, the Boston Red Sox have spent plenty, but with a bit more thought and foresight. No, they haven't always won and gotten to the playoffs, but they've always had their eye on two, three or five years in the future before throwing cash at someone. The Rangers would be smart to do the same.

Wrangling all the Texas Rangers I can on a Wednesday morning

We love you ... unless we can trade you for something better

Basically, the MLB Winter Meetings blew up and Texas Rangers guts went everywhere. Here's a summary. I think.

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Yesterday afternoon, it came out that the Texas Rangers were listening on any deals for third baseman Michael Young. Not an entirely foreign ideal if you saw him man the hot corner ... or his contract. He's got three years and $48 million.

Two hours later, the Rangers came out of the woodworks and denied these rumors.

Two hours after that, the Colorado Rockies apparently knocked on the door trying to work out a trade. There, Young would've been moved back to second base.

Several hours later, it came down that the Rockies and Rangers couldn't work anything out or it wasn't really as serious as we thought and Young's still a Ranger. As much as I'd like to see Young move from third base, I think it would have backfired if he was traded right now.

For one, Young gone would've meant the Rangers go after Adrian Beltre, which would've been the worst move in TEXAS RANGERS HISTORY!

Two, it may have killed the clubhouse. Young's liked and looked up to in that clubhouse that is still really young (zing!), in need of direction and there's no clear-cut leader in that clubhouse with the veteran presence of Young. Even a guy like Vlad Guerrero doesn't carry a room quite like Young.

Three, Young still approached 200 hits, 100 runs, 100 RBI, almost 40 doubles and 20 home runs on an offense that sputtered at times. He's needed still.

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There were thoughts the Rangers are interested in Magglio Ordonez, Guerrero and Jim Thome. I assume for first base/DH duties.

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Yesterday afternoon, talks heated up between the Chicago Cubs that would have sent maligned first baseman Chris Davis and reliever Darren O'Day

The Rangers were apparently eyeing catcher Robinson Chirinos, a 26-year-old "prospect" who's been OK in Triple A. The other prospect was 22-year-old righty Rafael Dolis, who jumped to Double A this year and posted a 4.07 ERA.

However, the Cubs signed Carlos Pena, so any interest in this trade seems to be waning.

As for O'Day, I think the Rangers are looking to sell high with the hopes that some of these young guys in the system can pitch in the seventh and eighth innings. Essentially, they're waiting for the clock to strike midnight.

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As for Cliff Lee, two secret teams have apparently offered him seven years. These two teams don't appear to be the Rangers, New York Yankees, Washington Nationals and California Angels. The Chicago Cubs and Milwaukee Brewers have been mentioned. Thoughts are that no contender is giving him seven years.

Tim Cowlishaw thinks the Rangers should overpay in order to prevent Lee from going to the Yankees. This is the dumbest shit ever. Go ahead and overpay and when your hamstrung financially and have to trade him to the Yankees in three years, I guess that plan will backfire.

Evan Grant spews forth Winter Meetings rumors

When did journalists start reporting rumors?

Evan Grant's in sunny Orlando, Fla. reporting on the MLB Winter Meetings. He had some juicy tidbits.

Cliff Lee's apparently telling teammates that a sixth year gets him back with the Rangers at about $20 million a year. That's $120 million for those keeping score at home.

Again, it doesn't seem money is the issue. He's a $20 million a year guy. It's the years. The Yankees may or may not give six. Probably more likely to than the Rangers.

Grant things a package of Martin Perez/Tanner Scheppers with Derek Holland, Julio Borbon and Jurickson Profar/Luis Sardinas gets Zack Greinke. All reports are that the asking price for Greinke is not getting lower. Then again, the Royals have him on the books until 2012, so what's the rush.

Perez is coming off his worst year. Holland and Borbon's usefulness in the bigs is, at the very least, questionable. Scheppers is injury prone, or so we think. Profar and Sardinas are kids.

What if the Rangers wound up with both Lee and Greinke? Yowza.

By the way, Jon Heyman is reporting that Brandon Webb is scaring the New York Mets away. This goes along with my rule that if a player's injury past scares the Mets away, it should scare you away.

Rangers rumors, news and good Monday night stuff

AP

The Texas Rangers are denying talking with Andy Pettitte, despite a story that states otherwise. I've always thought Pettitte would be a good fit here and still probably would. However, that probably means that Cliff Lee isn't here.

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Speaking of, the Rangers are heavily rumored to be the ideal spot for Zack Greinke, whose trade from the Kansas City Royals seems like a foregone conclusion. The Rangers will have the pay out of the nose in young, good prospects. The key component is Engel Beltre, the 21-year-old centerfielder in Frisco, had in the Eric Gagne deal from Boston. Again, if Greinke is in Arlington next season, it means that Lee is in pinstripes. Not an awful plan B, but one I'd rather avoid.

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The Rangers got themselves a catcher. They signed 32-year-old Yorvit Torrealba to a two-year, $6.2 million deal. Torrealba is OK. Good defensively and OK enough at the plate. He hit .291 in 2009 in limited time in San Diego. His career high in games is 113 and that was in 2007. I see him playing at least that many in Texas splitting time with Matt Treanor or Taylor Teagarden. The best stat on Torrealba is that he had a 3.14 pitcher's ERA last season, the lowest since 2003. Give him arms and he can make them shine.

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Finally, Frank Francisco is expected to accept arbitration and return to the Rangers. I thought he was gone. We've kind of seen what he has. Then again, how valuable would he have been in three or four of those playoff games? When he's on, he's on. Unhittable. He lost his closer's job in April to Neftali Feliz. Feliz seems bound to the starting rotation. It's thought Alexi Ogando could close, set-up or even start. Therefore, Francisco is pretty important. There's also thought that the Rangers could go after a free agent closer, like Rafael Soriano.