Just like in past meetings, day one was full of juicy rumors about blockbuster trades, including a three team blockbuster that would have given the Yankees Curtis Granderson and the D-Backs Edwin Jackson.

No major free agents signed with new teams on day one but plenty closed the door on returning to their old team, including Rangers legend Pudge Rodriguez.

Despite saying repeatedly he wanted to return to the Rangers next season and eventually retire as a Ranger, Pudge jumped on a two year offer from the Washington Nationals to serve as a mentor for their young catchers.

This is of course another article for another time but I find it difficult to accept Pudge going to a non-contending team to serve in the same capacity as he would for the contending Rangers he wanted to retire with.

I’m sure some blogger somewhere will go on a rant about the Rangers not offering to match the deal and when they do I’ll be the first one to respond.

The Rangers need a veteran catcher for this season to buy development time for Taylor Teagarden and provide insurance in case Jarrod Saltalamacchia has more shoulder problems.

There is no reason in the world for the Rangers to guarantee two years for Pudge and absolutely did the right thing letting him walk.

Trade for Clay Rapada

As for players the Rangers have brought into the organization, Daniels and Co. struck early in the day acquiring Clay Rapada, a sidearm left-hander from the Tigers for either cash or a player to be named later.

Rapada will enter Spring Training competing for a spot in the bullpen and could be used as a replacement for CJ Wilson if the Rangers move him to the rotation.

Not likely considering how important Wilson is in the bullpen, but Rapada would give the Rangers a unique bullpen alignment with sidearm pitchers from both the left and right.

Millwood Rumors

Despite daily denials from Jon Daniels, the Kevin Millwood rumors will not go away and some sources from Baltimore have indicated a deal could become a reality in the future.

The reported deal in the works have the Rangers dealing Millwood to Baltimore in exchange for a second-tier pitching prospect with the Rangers eating some of Millwood’s contract.

The amount of Millwood’s contract the Rangers will pay depends on the player they get in return from Baltimore.

Considering this rumor is coming from Baltimore sources I’ll assume a denial from the Rangers will come very quickly, but when there is this much smoke surrounding a player there is at least a small flame somewhere.

Wash Speaks

Rangers manager Ron Washington met with the media and announced his plans for the Rangers lineup should they do nothing as expected this offseason.

Julio Borbon will play in center, even against left-handers, and lead off pushing Josh Hamilton to left field with Nelson Cruz in right; David Murphy will be the fourth outfielder.

Ian Kinsler will hit second in the order behind Borbon pushing Michael Young to third in the order ahead of Hamilton with Elvis Andrus hitting ninth.

This lineup works for the Rangers provided they find a right-handed bat with power to protect Hamilton in the order.

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