On January 12th, it was a lot. Vladimir Guerrero got a one year deal for a reporte $5.5 million with a $9 million option for 2011.
On January 15th, it probably wasn't a lot as Brandon McCarthy and Dustin Nippert got one year deals for unreported amounts.
On January 18th, C. J. Wilson got his one year deal for an unreported amount.
January 19th cost the Rangers a little bit of cash as Chris Ray signed a one year deal for $975,000, Josh Hamilton signed a one year deal for $3.25 million and the Rangers brought back Colby Lewis for two years at $1.75 million and $3.00 million with an option for a third year.
The Rangers spent a little "green" on January 21st signing Khalil Greene to a one year, $750,000 deal to replace Omar Vizquel as their utility infielder.
On the 22nd, the Rangers signed free-agent catcher, Toby Hall, to a minor league deal. Hall was out of baseball in 2009 after having surgery to repair a torn labrum in his throwing shoulder. He is a career .262 hitter after playing for the Rays from 2000-2006, the Dodgers in 2006 and the Cubs in 2007-08.
The big money was thrown around, at least symbolically, on January 23rd, when Rangers owner Tom Hicks agreed to a deal to sell the team to a group headed by Pittsburgh attorney Chuck Greenberg for just under $570 million. This deal includes the team, the lease on the Ballpark in Arlington and approximately 153 acres around the Ballpark and Hicks retains a small minority ownership position. The deal still needs approval of the Hicks Sports Group lenders and 75% of MLB owners. I think it's a done deal provided the lenders agree. MLB is ready to be rid of Hicks and get someone in place who doesn't need money from the MLB coffers to meet payroll. The best part of the deal, next to Hicks being relegated to minority partership, is Nolan Ryan stays on as President. My sources, the super highway interweb, say the deal may not be finalize until March or even as late as Opening Day due to the approval process.
Only 24 days until Pitchers and Catchers can report! Bring on Spring Training!!!!
***Blog Note***
I know how much Beardy dislikes it when there are no pics, so I'll remind him that I left my flash drive with pics at home. I'm still angry about that too!
Otherwise, I could have had nice pics of all the players mentioned above. Instead you get...
Ok, no more baby pics for awhile. Maybe.
Wow, I know it wasn't the point of the story, but I am really glad that Toby Hall has a job offer lined up. He is an all-around good guy and if his surgery worked, he is a good defensive catcher and a decent back-up/personal catcher type guy... Where are the Rangers spring training at these days?
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