wrong player.  I would go with Matt Morris.  See if we can persuade him to come here.

1a. Kenny Rogers for one year
1b. or Matty Mo for two (maybe three, but not if I can avoid it)
1c. or Paul Byrd for two

2. Reggie Sanders
   
3. Trade Sori for Jason Marquis and Ray King
   
4. Octavio Dotel (2 years, incentives out the wazzoo).

Don't know what my thing is for Cardinals players, but that's how it breaks down.

Brett Tomko, Joe Mays, or Elmer Dessens.

If I am the GM of the Rangers in bizarro world where I am acutally allowed to sign someone good then it's Matt Morris.

1.  Offer arb. to Rogers and hope he accepts.
   
2.  Morris or Millwood.
   
3.  Avoid high-priced relievers.
   
4.  If St. Louis will do it, you try for the Marquis/King deal.
   
5.  Give Botts 10 hours of outfield practice everyday between now and Spring Training, then up it to 12 hours per day.  Stick him in the OF full time next season.

This is difficult, since any free agent target(s) I would attempt to sign would be decided upon with potential trade options.  Being that I don't have any of that "inside info", I would go with this in mind:

If I can trade a Soriano package for a Milledge package, I would try to do that.  Then I have a little more money to play with.

My priorities would be to make the team competitive AND generate fan interest.  "If you buy them, they will come."

1)  Barring a trade for an ace (I think Beckett was our shot at that), then I would sign 2 of these 3:  Burnett (yes, even at 5 years), Millwood (about 3 years), Morris (2-3 years)

It gives us not just the beginnings of a decent rotation, but actually "a rotation" at all.  These guys can grow into the team and the prospects can grow up watching these pitchers....and maybe learn from them.

2.  I would look at Dotel, but not for one year...to me, that's just a waste.  If he gives us club option for more, then I do it.
3.  Maybe look at Ponson, if the reports are accurate about his drinking, weight, and hair issues being addressed.
4.  Personally, I'm not opposed to Rogers coming back if he accepts arbitration.  BUT not at the expense of the other 2 listed above in #1.
5.  I still don't know what to do about RF, as none of the ideas I have for RF get me excited, and anything we have doesn't have the arm for RF.  I'm not opposed to Pierre coming in, because I would like to have a little speed and he had a little grit to him.  I would not get him if the money interfered with my pursuit of pitching.

Honestly, I don't know what to do about the OF.  Trades are the only real option there, in my eyes.  Even that is going to tricky as our pitchers will be the ones asked for in a trade.

Basically, try to trade Soriano (before he walks next year).  Trade Nix, Barajas or Laird, A. Gonzalez, or whatever......but don't give up much else.

I could handle:

1B: Tex
2B: Kinsler or <2B to be named later>
SS: Young
3B: Blalock
OF: Mench, Milledge, Delucci, GMJ (unless something pops up out of nowhere)
C: Laird/Barajas
B/DH:  Weak, Weak, Weak.....Nevin if he can hit anything!!!!  If we can't find a decent DH, let the stinking pitchers hit.....couldn't be much worse.

Along with a pitching staff:

Burnett/Millwood
Morris
C. Young
K. Loe
Maybe Ponson

Benoit
Rodriguez
Dominguez
Whoever
Whoever
Cordero

I would feel a lot better about the team this way than I did before.

PS:  I would love to get Vernon Wells back home, if we could pull it off.  That would go a long way in solidifying the OF.

I'm with Dan; it's a no brainer to me.

I would also try to sign Octavio Dotel and Byung-Hyun Kim for the bullpen.

I would try to deal Mench and something else for Alexis Rios and Miguel Batista.

I would deal Soriano and Barajas to the Mets for whatever they would give me, possibly Aaron Heilman.

I would trade for Milton Bradley, which wouldn't cost much, and stick him in CF every day.

I would explore dealing Blalock for a young corner outfielder who can hit and get on base, and replace him with Bill Mueller at third.