It was a year ago around this date when we were waiting with bated breath to find out if the Rangers had won the services of Yu Darvish. Now it is a year later and we're left wondering if the Rangers might be able to sign Raul Ibanez.

Gerry Fraley cites industry sources as saying the Rangers are interested in Ibanez as a budget left-handed hitting option for the bench. Ibanez is 40 years old. I suppose if youth is to be served in 2013, a wily veteran presence will be required.

If this offseason were a box of donuts, Ibanez would be the discounted day old plain after everyone picked through the crullers, maple bars, jellies, sprinkles, and boston cremes already.

Perhaps if not Ibanez, Kyle Lohse can fill the role of crafty vet. Richard Durrett's series on possible free agent targets lands on Lohse today. Unless the Rangers are also going to bring Dave Duncan with him, and abolishing the DH, I'd want nothing to do with Lohse at 2012 prices.

The DMN has a transcript of Jon Daniels on the Ben and Skin show. Daniels spoke on topics such as Josh Hamilton and whether or not he views this offseason as a failure.

In some good news, T.R. Sullivan writes that Colby Lewis has been given the go-ahead to throw off flat ground and is on pace for his June 1st--and possibly even earlier--targeted return should he continue to progress.

Ashley Marshall of milb.com has a write-up on the Rangers' 2012 Minor League All-Star Team.

Finally, in case you missed it, Adam has set up a community donation drive for the Emilie Parker Memorial Fund.