National Baseball Report

Rangers lose catching prospect for 2010

The Texas Rangers lost the services of catching prospect Tomas Telis because of Tommy John surgery according to Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News.  Telis signed for $130,000 in 2007 and played at the age of 17.  He switched from shortstop to catcher for the Rangers and is now considered their second best catching prospect behind Max Ramirez.

Lenders objecting to Rangers' sale

Some of the 40 leanders who hold $525 million in debt owed by the Hicks Sports Group are objecting to the sale of the Texas Rangers according to Jeff Wilson of the Dallas Morning News.  A meeting will be held at the headquarters of MLB but potential new owners Chuck Greenberg and Nolan Ryan will not be in attendance.  They apparently do not think the lenders can block the sale.  The lenders are trying to get more money for the club.

Rangers sign pitcher Scott Feldman

The Texas Rangers avoided arbitration with pitcher Scott Feldman by signing him to a one-year, $2.425 contract according to Richard Durrett of ESPNDallas.com.  Feldman was asking for $2.9 million in arbitration and the Rangers were offering $2.05 million.  He was 17-8 with a 4.08 ERA and a 1.28 WHIP for the Rangers in 2009.  Feldman was the last of Texas' arbitration eligible players.

Rangers avoid arbitration with Frank Francisco

The Texas Rangers avoided arbitration with pitcher Frank Francisco by signing him to a one-year, $3.265 million contract according to Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News.  Francisco was asking for $3.6 million in arbitration.  The Rangers were offering $3 million.  Francisco was 2-3 with 25 saves, a 3.83 ERA and a 1.11 WHIP for the Rangers in 2009.

Rangers trade Golson to Yankees

The Texas Rangers traded outfielder Greg Golson to the New York Yankees for minor league infielder Mitch Hilligoss according to Bryan Hoch of MLB.com.  Golson hit .258 with 46 runs and 40 RBI in 457 at-bats in Triple-A for the Rangers in 2009.  Hilligoss hit .233 in 163 at-bats at Single-A.

"We traded away some outfield depth in Austin Jackson and Melky Cabrera on the Major League side," Cashman said. "We're trying to get some experience that we can turn to and come in to try to compete for a spot on the 25 [-man roster], like all of these guys." [Yankees GM Brian Cashman]

Rnagers' draft pick Cooper chooses football

Texas Rangers' 25th-round draft pick Riley Cooper has decided to try to play in the NFL instead of reporting to spring training with the club according to the Dallas Morning News.  Cooper played wide receiver for the Florida Gators in 2009.  He was scheduled to get a mandatory physical on January 17 for the Rangers.  The physical was delayed because he was still playing football.  After the physical, Cooper would have received half of his signing bonus.

"Football's definitely the route I want to take," Cooper said. "Toward the last couple of weeks of the football season, I knew that's what I wanted to do. That's my makeup, my mentality. I'm just a football player not a baseball player."

Rangers add Colby Lewis to 40-man roster

The Texas Rangers added pitcher Colby Lewis to their 40-man roster according to Richard Durrett of ESPNDallas.com.  Joe Inglett was designated for assignment to make room for Durrett.  Lewis last played in the major leagues in 2007 for the Oakland Athletics.  He spent the last two seasons in Japan.  The Rangers agreed to a two-year contract with Lewis last week.

Agreement reached for sale of Rangers

Tom Hicks and the Chuck Greenberg-Nolan Ryan Group have reached an agreement on the sale of the Texas Rangers according to T.R. Sullivan of MLB.com.  The sale still has to be approved by the other Major League Baseball owners.  The sale must also be approved by the creditors who have loaned money to Tom Hicks.  The final price is expected to be over $500 million.

Greneberg will be the managing partner and CEO.  Nolan Ryan will be a limited partner and continue to be the president of the club.

"Nolan and I greatly appreciate Tom Hicks' willingness to work beyond the deadline to complete the deal and his support for passing the torch from the Hicks family to our group," Greenberg said in the statement. "His actions speak eloquently to his commitment to serve the best interests of Rangers fans and the community.

"We are fortunate to be assuming the stewardship of a franchise poised for greatness. The tremendous foundation of talent that has been assembled on both the Major and Minor League levels, combined with our passionate commitment to achieve excellence in every facet of the organization's operation, and the pent-up thirst for success we observe from our fans every day, creates the opportunity for the Rangers to become one of the great franchises in baseball."

Rangers sign catcher Toby Hall

The Texas Rangers signed catcher Toby Hall to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training according to Jeff Wilson of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.  Hall missed all of 2009 with a torn labrum in his right shoulder.  He is expected to be ready for spring training.  He was signed because of questions surrounding Jarrod Saltalamacchia.  Saltalamacchia had arm fatigue when he was playing this winter in an attempt to return from thoracic outlet syndrome.  The Rangers expect Saltalamacchia to be ready by opening day.

Several players avoid arbitration

The number of players avoiding arbitration continues to grow rapidly.  Below are the players who we have not mentioned in previous posts:

• The Florida Marlins signed Dan Uggla, Anibal Sanchez and Reynel Pinto.
• The Cincinnai Reds signed Jared Burton.
• The Chicago White Sox signed Tony Pena.
• The Texas Rangers signed C.J. Wilson.
• The New York Yankees signed Chad Gaudin and Boone Logan.