July 2016 - Texas Rangers Wiretap

The Texas Rangers have signed Drew Stubbs to a Minor League contract with an invitation to Spring Training.

Stubbs, 31, finished last season with the Rangers after being released by the Colorado Rockies.

He will make $1.5 million if on the Major League roster.

The Rangers have agreed on a one-year, $8 million contract with former Nationals shortstop Ian Desmond pending a physical, sources told ESPN.

The Nationals extended a $15.8 million qualifying offer to Desmond, but he elected to test free agency. The Rangers must surrender a first-round draft pick to the Nationals for signing Desmond.

Cole Hamels is suing a London-based event promoter after he wasn't able to attend last year's Victoria's Secret fashion show.

Hamels, who filed the suit in Philadelphia, alleges that Cornucopia Events failed to get him and his wife into the 2015 New York City lingerie show even though he paid nearly $70,000 for three VIP packages.

The suit says the money was to cover a four-night stay in a luxury hotel, a limousine with champagne, access to exclusive restaurants and goodie bags.

The suit alleges that Hamels and his party got none of the perks and were denied entry to the event.

Josh Hamilton is seeking a second opinion from Dr. James Andrews on his left knee.

Hamilton, who has had two surgeries since September, had a cortisone injection in the knee last month after several weeks of renewed soreness.

The injection provided relief for about three weeks.

"He's had his ups and downs this offseason, and we'd like to find out if there is something else we can do," Jon Daniels said. "You would like to have a better handle on what we can expect from him this year."

The Texas Rangers have extended Jeff Banister's contract through the 2018 season.

Banister was voted AL Manager of the Year after leading the Rangers to an 88-74 record and the AL West title. Texas hired him in October 2014.

"We reworked Jeff's contract," general manager Jon Daniels said. "Through the team's early season struggles, he was able to keep everyone focused, and that led to a memorable finish. We are proud to have him managing the Texas Rangers."

His previous deal was guaranteed through 2017 and included a team option for 2018. The Rangers said Friday they had guaranteed 2018 and added a team option for 2019.

The Texas Rangers have installed additional protective netting that spans the length of the dugouts on each side of their home ballpark.

The new netting is about six feet high above the dugouts, which extends the nets from the end of the current home plate screen to over both dugouts, about 68 feet on both sides, according to club officials.

Mitch Moreland revealed on Wednesday that he played the final two months of the 2015 season with a left foot fracture.

The stress fracture started bothering him in August and was likely the result of his ankle surgery from 2014.

"My foot was in a little different position and there was a breaking-in period," Moreland said. "It feels good now. I had a full offseason and even by the end of last season, it started to feel better."

Moreland was better in the first half of the season, but still enjoyed his best season in 2015. He had a .812 OPS with 23 home runs and 85 RBI.

The Texas Rangers are keeping an eye on several options to add depth to their outfield, according to a report.

Josh Hamilton reported to camp with inflammation in his recently-repaired left knee, adding to uncertainty.

Texas would prefer to add a left-handed hitter, though that isn't essential.

The Texas Rangers and Adrian Beltre appear to be moving towards a contract extension that would keep him with the club through the remainder of his career.

"I think Adrian already had a discussion with them, in which he expressed a desire to stay," Scott Boras said. "They want him there, and we're going to work on that."

Boras added that he's optimistic something will be worked out by Opening Day.

Beltre, 36, is currently set to become a free agent after the 2016 season.

The Texas Rangers will sign Ike Davis to a Minor League contract with an invitation to Spring Training.

The New York Yankees and Milwaukee Brewers were also linked to Davis this offseason.

Davis, 28, hasn't been very productive since hitting 32 home runs for the New York Mets in 2012.