After seeing this done, in a pair of fanshots at Royals Review, I figured that creating a similar list for the Rangers would be a lot of fun.  So I went through the years, picking out good candidates, for both best and worst, following the same, basic rules.  Today we get the good, probably tomorrow we get the bad.

"1. I only included Major League free agents, not waiver wire pickups or minor league free agents.

2. I only included free agents signed from other teams, not contracts given to players already on the club.

3. I only included the initial contract figure, but not extensions."

10. Will Clark – 5 years, $30 million (1994-1998)
Clark joined the team replacing Rafael Palmeiro.  He might not have matched Raffy's middle of the order production, but he put up several above average seasons in Arlington that included a trip to the All Star Game, and a Top 15 MVP finish in 1994.

9. Kenny Lofton – 1 year, $6 million (2007)/Eric Gagne – 1 year, $6 million (2007)
A pair of bargain basement pickups, these two former all stars joined the team together in 2007 on low-risk, one year deals.  Each performed rather well for the team, Lofton with a 116 OPS+ and over 20 SBes, providing stability to the lead-off spot, Gagne with an ERA+ over 200 and 16 saves in an injury-shortened half season.  However, their performances alone are not what warrants their inclusion on this list.  On July 27th, Lofton was traded from the Rangers to the Indians, where he began his career, for Max Ramirez.  4 days later, Gagne was traded to the Red Sox for Engel Beltre, David Murphy, and Kason Gabbard.  Of those acquired, Beltre and Ramirez are among the Rangers top prospects, David Murphy was a Rookie of the Month last season, and Gabbard has shown flashes of brilliance in his season plus in the bigs.

8. Milton Bradley – 1 year, $5.25 million (2008)
Milton Bradley's talent has never been in question, but his firey temper and ability to stay healthy were when the Rangers signed him to a one year deal before this season began.  Many speculated that the deal, much like Gagne and Lofton the previous season, was made with the idea of trading him for some coveted young prospect if he could rebuild his value.  As the story goes, Bradley reached 500 PAs in a season for only the second time in his career and found a certain sense of belonging and peace in the Rangers locker room.  He then proceeded to tear up the AL, starting the All-Star game as the designated hitter, finishing third in the league in batting, first in on base percentage, and fourth in slugging.  The Rangers, largely thanks to Bradley's play, found themselves within striking distance at the All Star break and unable to deal the switch hitting star.  Bradley finished the season 17th in MVP voting.

7. Mickey Tettleton – 1 year, $1 million (1995)
After the strike-shortened 1994, Tettleton signed with the Rangers a couple of weeks before the 1995 season began.  Originally signed to play DH, Mickey ended up playing all over the field, spending time at 1B, RF, LF, and catcher.  Tettleton ended up arguably having the finest season of his career in 1995, and lead the team in home runs.  Tettleton ended up resigning with the team, and was a Ranger until his retirement early into the 1997 campaign.

6. Alex Rodriguez – 10 years, $252 million (2001-2003)
Stats-wise, you could make a case for Rodriguez at #1 on the list.  In the three seasons he spent in Arlington, he started three All Star Games, won two Golden Gloves and finished no lower than 6th in the MVP voting, winning the award in 2003.  However, with the largest contract in baseball history, you're expected to win, and he couldn't on his own.  When Hicks realized that the contract was an albatross on the day to day dealings of the team, he originally tried to deal Rodriguez to Boston for enigmatic slugger Manny Ramirez, and when the MLBPA refused to rework A-Rod's contract, he was dealt to the Yankees for Alfonso Soriano and Joaquin Arias.

5. Tom Henke – 2 year, $7.5 million (1993-1994)
Henke came up in the Rangers organization, but later joined the Blue Jays as a compensatory pick due to a Free Agent signing.  However, when Henke rejoined the team in 1993, he was no longer the kid with a lot of promise, he was an all-star closer who had just come from the World Champions.  Over his two years in Arlington, he amassed 55 saves and had some very solid years, providing stability in the Rangers bullpen.

4. Kenny Rogers – 2 year, $6 million (2004-2005)
In his third stint in Arlington, Rogers joined the team after a decent, but unremarkable 2003 in Minnesota.  Over the next two years, for a team that always needs pitching, he filled the role of #1 starter, going 32-17, making the All Star team and being awarded Gold Gloves both years.  This run is probably remembered more for the cameraman incident than how good Rogers was on the mound.

3. John Wetteland – 4 year, $23 million (1997-2000)
Wetteland came to the Rangers after a very successful career in Los Angeles, Montreal and later New York.  Wetteland almost immediately became the greatest closer in Rangers history, saving more than 30 games every season in Rangers Red, making two All Star teams along the way.  Wetteland still holds the Rangers career saves record with 150.

2. Nolan Ryan – 2 year, $3.2 million (1989-1990)
After a falling out with Houston Astros owner John J. McMullen over a little under half a million dollars, Ryan signed with the cross-state Texas Rangers before the 1989 season.  Although Ryan ended up spending his final 5 years in Arlington, over the initial contract, he went 29-19, made one All Star team and had a Top 5 finish in Cy Young voting.  In addition, he immediately became the face of the Texas Rangers franchise, and reached several key accomplishments: 5000 strikeouts, 300 wins, and his sixth no-hitter.

1. Rafael Palmeiro – 5 year, $45 million (1999-2003)
When Rafael returned to the Rangers in 1999 after 5 years in Baltimore, he played like a man possessed.  Each of the five seasons he hit 39 or more home runs, and drove in over 100 RBIs.  Although in the post-Juiced era, the accomplishments will never be looked at the same way again, he was an absolute force out of first base for the Rangers over the entire course of the contract.

And there's the Top 10.  While I might do the Top 10 Worst over the weekend, Monday seems more likely.