Sunday morning things

Was news this slow last year at this time?  I don't remember...I guess I could go back and look at the posts from last year at this time, but that would require, you know, an effort...

Per the S-T, Jon Daniels says he expects Gerald Laird and Marlon Byrd -- the Rangers' only two remaining arbitration-eligible players -- to agree to contracts without going through arbitration.  The Rangers haven't gone to arbitration with a player since Doug Melvin was G.M. and they were coming off a division title...

Brian Cashman acknowledged publicly that his control over the Yankees has diminished since the Steinbrenner Sons have taken over an active ownership role from King George.  Cashman's deal is up at the end of 2008, and he almost left at the end of his last contract before getting a three year deal that gave him pretty much total control over the baseball side of things, so it wouldn't be a surprise to see him jump ship after this season.

And apparently, the Angels aren't going to deal Howie Kendrick for Paul Konerko, after all.  Which shows that there still is some sense in Anaheim.

Jim Reeves has some Ranger and baseball items in his Postcards from the Ledge, but nothing particularly earth-shattering.