Are the Rangers serious about bringing Yu Darvish back?
-- Chris T., Fort Worth, Texas
General manager Jon Daniels said Tuesday afternoon the Rangers will not be playing "at the top" of the free-agent market. But he was still planning to have dinner with Darvish on Wednesday. Apparently, they have been planning to do this all winter and are only now getting around to it, at the same time Darvish is meeting with other teams.
So, through all the mixed signals, Darvish and Daniels will talk to each other Wednesday. It's doubtful that there will be a joint communique released after the dinner, but they will certainly have an opportunity to talk about anything they want, whether it is their families or a return to the Rangers. After all, Daniels is not planning to have dinner with Nick Martinez this winter.
:: Submit a question to the Rangers Inbox ::
Does Daniels really think he has made the Rangers a contender after the moves he has made so far?
-- Richard B., Denton, Texas
No, but Christmas marks just the halfway point in the offseason, and this has been a slow-moving winter because clubs were bogged down at the outset because of the pursuit of Japanese star Shohei Ohtani. There are still several interesting relievers on the market, including Addison Reed, Matt Albers, Tyler Clippard and Brian Duensing.
The Rangers also aren't done with the rotation. No team should be, as long as Darvish, Jacob Arrieta, Alex Cobb and Lance Lynn are unsigned. The Rangers may or may not be reluctant to play in the top end of the market, but they could use much more depth than they currently have. That, at a minimum, needs to be addressed.
• Hot Stove Tracker
Are the Rangers going after Wade Davis or at least a dominant closer?
-- Raul C., Fort Worth, Texas
The Rangers, for the most part, are constitutionally opposed to paying big money to a one-inning reliever. They did so with Joseph Nathan in 2012-13 but have steered away from it since. They have also had to change closers during each of the past four seasons. The Rangers are confident they will find somebody. It's clear they were hoping Keone Kela would be ready for the role right now, and that may be the case if he stays healthy.
Rougned Odor is as polarizing for Rangers fans as he is for opponents. His comps to Bill Mazeroski through age 23 are striking. Don't we just need to let this kid develop instead of looking to shop him?
-- Matthew S., Fort Worth, Texas
Offensively, he has a higher ceiling than Mazeroski. Defensively, nobody was better than Mazeroski in the history of the game. Look, Odor is the Rangers' second baseman. The club made that commitment last year, and it hasn't changed.
With several free-agent outfielders and first basemen left on the free-agent market, would the inclusion of Nomar Mazara and/or Willie Calhoun get the deal done with Zack Greinke from the D-backs or Gerrit Cole from the Pirates?
-- Joel B., Wortham, Texas
Yes, if the Rangers include Mazara in the deal, the D-backs will give them Greinke, who is due $138.5 million over the next four years. But if you can afford that, wouldn't it be better to keep Mazara and sign Arrieta? Yes, the Pirates will take Mazara for a pitcher who was 19-22 with a 4.12 ERA over the past two years. Calhoun, who is unproven at the big league level, alone wouldn't get the deal done.
Any news on Josh Hamilton and a possible return to the Rangers?
-- Patty B., Pflugerville, Texas
Last word on Hamilton is he was trying to rehabilitate his surgically repaired left knee and wants to play again. It won't be with the Rangers. It is time for them to move on. If he would retire, the Rangers could put him in their Hall of Fame.
Would the Rangers look at trading for Kevin Kiermaier? He is reasonably priced and is the type of plus defender we need in center.
-- Walter B., Wylie, Texas
That's a great name. Everybody could use that type of center fielder, and it would allow Delino DeShields to play left. The reality is the Rangers don't have the type of upper-level prospects -- especially pitching -- to get that done, even if the Rays were willing to move Kiermaier. I still think DeShields will be much better defensively next season than many expect.