Howdy, y'all.
Evan Grant writes that the Rangers tendered contracts to Neal Cotts, Neftali Feliz, Alexi Ogando, Craig Gentry and Mitch Moreland before last night's deadline. This was a lot of tenderizing.
T.R. Sullivan too writes about the Rangers are trying a little tenderness with their arb-eligible players while expounding on the roster as the Winter Meetings approach.
Anthony Andro writes that a tendered contract is the touch of someone that you love too much for the five eligible Rangers.
Jeff Wilson writes that, yes, the Rangers even love Mitch Moreland tender.
Richard Durrett discusses the back-up catcher market taking shape now that the arbitration deadline has passed. J.P. Arencibia is free, you guys. Anyone might sign him. Maybe even you.
Durrett's Hot Stove Talk has moved left field from the back burner. What the Rangers do with the outfield the rest of the winter is probably the biggest storyline remaining this offseason. (Until they win the Tanaka posting.) In addition to the usual names, Durrett also evokes Nate McLouth and that makes me shutter but not in the sexy orgasmic way.
To further demonstrate that baseball writers prefer different things from baseball players than fans do, Sullivan writes that A.J. Pierzynski has won the local media's Harold McKinney "Player who gives good quotes" Good Guy Award.
Our old pal Jeff Sullivan writes about the dreaded feeling of inevitability that his Mariners will do something stupid and sign Nelson Cruz.
Jeff Miller writes that the Angels don't have money to spend, after spending tons of money the last two winters, and now could really use some money for things.
Brian Manzullo of the Detroit Free Press writes that Ian Kinsler has selected No. 3 as his uniform number for the Tigers. This is apparently a big deal because No. 3 was Alan Trammell's number. I guess it's a little like if Yorvit Torrealba had wanted No. 7.
Finally, Gerry Fraley writes that it's colder in Detroit than it is in Arlington. No really. That's an article he published.