Post by zpustka on Nov 1, 2007 22:59:24 GMT -5
ARLINGTON -- The Rangers have begun the process of trying to improve their team for next year by officially expressing interest in free agent center fielders Torii Hunter and Aaron Rowand.
Rangers general manager Jon Daniels and assistant general manager Thad Levine have been busy talking by phone with a number of agents about their clients.
"We've probably called a dozen agents, representing 30 players, and those guys are two of the players we talked about," Daniels said on Thursday.
The Rangers have made center field a top priority going into the offseason and Hunter and Rowand are at the top of their list. Rowand hit .309 with 27 home runs and 89 RBIs for the Phillies while Hunter, a six-time Gold Glove winner, hit .287 with 28 home runs and 107 RBIs for the Twins.
The Rangers will have extra money to spend after Alex Rodriguez opted out the remainder of his contract. The Rangers owed the New York Yankees $21.3 million over the next three years, but that debt was wiped out when Rodriguez decided to become a free agent.
Right now clubs can only negotiate contracts with their own free agents during a two-week period following the World Series. They can express interest in other free agents, but can not discuss money until after the two-week exclusivity window has passed. That's still not going to keep agents from descending on the General Managers Meetings at Disney World in Orlando, Fla., next week.
The Rangers are looking to upgrade their outfield, but that's not all Daniels will be looking for when he goes to Florida or to the Winter Meetings in Nashville in early December.
"We would like to add veterans to our bullpen and, depending on how the outfield shakes out, we may look at first base too," Daniels said.
Daniels said he has not talked to too many agents about starting pitching.
"There are just not that many starting pitchers that I would consider a fit here," Daniels said.
Coaching watch: The Rangers have re-signed hitting coach Rudy Jaramillo to a two-year contract and could move quickly to add a third-base coach soon.
The Rangers interviewed former Oakland coach Brad Fischer and veteran catcher Sandy Alomar Jr. on Thursday and will interview Matt Walbeck on Friday. Walbeck is a former Major League catcher who is now managing in the Detroit Tigers farm system.
Rangers general manager Jon Daniels and assistant general manager Thad Levine have been busy talking by phone with a number of agents about their clients.
"We've probably called a dozen agents, representing 30 players, and those guys are two of the players we talked about," Daniels said on Thursday.
The Rangers have made center field a top priority going into the offseason and Hunter and Rowand are at the top of their list. Rowand hit .309 with 27 home runs and 89 RBIs for the Phillies while Hunter, a six-time Gold Glove winner, hit .287 with 28 home runs and 107 RBIs for the Twins.
The Rangers will have extra money to spend after Alex Rodriguez opted out the remainder of his contract. The Rangers owed the New York Yankees $21.3 million over the next three years, but that debt was wiped out when Rodriguez decided to become a free agent.
Right now clubs can only negotiate contracts with their own free agents during a two-week period following the World Series. They can express interest in other free agents, but can not discuss money until after the two-week exclusivity window has passed. That's still not going to keep agents from descending on the General Managers Meetings at Disney World in Orlando, Fla., next week.
The Rangers are looking to upgrade their outfield, but that's not all Daniels will be looking for when he goes to Florida or to the Winter Meetings in Nashville in early December.
"We would like to add veterans to our bullpen and, depending on how the outfield shakes out, we may look at first base too," Daniels said.
Daniels said he has not talked to too many agents about starting pitching.
"There are just not that many starting pitchers that I would consider a fit here," Daniels said.
Coaching watch: The Rangers have re-signed hitting coach Rudy Jaramillo to a two-year contract and could move quickly to add a third-base coach soon.
The Rangers interviewed former Oakland coach Brad Fischer and veteran catcher Sandy Alomar Jr. on Thursday and will interview Matt Walbeck on Friday. Walbeck is a former Major League catcher who is now managing in the Detroit Tigers farm system.