July 2008 - Texas Rangers Wiretap

The Orioles and Rangers discussed a trade involving Hank Blalock during the winter meetings. Blalock would play first base and DH for Baltimore.

The Yankees are looking to move two from a group of outfielders of Xavier Nady, Nick Swisher, and Hideki Matsui. The Angels, Texas, Oakland, and Atlanta are considered to have interest.

The Red Sox are interested in acquiring a catcher, possibly Miguel Montero of Arizona or Jarrod Saltalamacchia of the Rangers. According to major league sources, Red Sox special assistant Allard Baird watched Saltalamacchia on his worst defensive night in winter ball although other scouts who watched him regularly thought he was fine behind the plate.

Management in Texas has been hesitant to put a timetable on when they expect to contend in the American League again, but recent comments indicate that it won't be for another season. "We could be a second-half club in 2009," GM Jon Daniels said, "assuming some of our young players are ready to come up and help. I could see us making a push by then." Daniels went on to note that 2010 was probably more realistic. The Rangers can be out from under around $40 million in contracts owed to Kevin Millwood, Vicente Padilla, Hank Blalock, Joaquin Benoit, Frank Catalanotto,and Marlon Byrd by then.

Rangers' center fielder Josh Hamilton has told SI.com that he will decline an invitation to play for Team USA at the World Baseball Classic. "If I had four or five years under my belt, I think I would do it," said Hamilton. "I think I would be better served by going to spring training and by getting that work in, because I missed so much time." After March's event, the next WBC will be in 2013. "I was excited about it," Hamilton said. "I wanted to do it, especially with the chance to play with a guy like Derek Jeter. I think the next time it comes around I'd love to play."

With CC Sabathia and A.J. Burnett off the market, the free-agent focus shifts to Ben Sheets, who has a number of suitors. The Rangers, Yankees and Braves are believed to be in the race to sign the right-hander. "It is our policy to refrain from comment on any specific talks with clubs, but it is fair to say that Ben does have sincere interest in the Rangers," Sheets agent, Casey Close, said Friday. Texas has pursued Sheets, while New York and Atlanta could focus on him with Sabathia and Burnett in pinstripes. The Braves had their eyes on Burnett, and the Yankees could look to add Sheets if Andy Pettitte doesn't return.

A meeting with pitcher Ben Sheets went well enough that team president Nolan Ryan said he believes the Rangers will meet with the free-agent pitcher again. "We didn't budget for a big-time free agent, but the prudent thing to do is not eliminate something until you investigate," Ryan said Tuesday. "Could we get ourselves in a position that we might have an opportunity to sign someone of his magnitude? Maybe, but I'm not making a prediction." Another conversation hasn't been scheduled, and Sheets and agent Casey Close will dictate when and if that happens.

The Tigers late Sunday night acquired catcher Gerald Laird from the Rangers in exchange for Class AA pitcher Guillermo Moscoso and a second prospect, a source told the FoxSports.com web site.