T.R. Sullivan reports that Tom Hicks and Jon Daniels are set to meet with Torii Hunter for dinner Monday night, and are expected to make a formal five year contract offer at that time.
As I've said before, 5 years is too long and not long enough. Too long to be committing big dollars to Hunter, from the standpoint of a prudent team, and likely not long enough for Hunter to sign, given the other teams interested in him.
Sullivan also says that the Rangers are interested in going after Kosuke Fukudome as an answer in right field, and have talked to the BoSox about Coco Crisp.
Sullivan also mentions that the Rangers have signed Warner Madrigal, a minor league free agent, to a major league deal.
Jamey Newberg sets out why a major league deal was necessary, and that Madrigal only became a free agent because the Angels, apparently, screwed up on the deadline for adding Madrigal to the 40 man roster, since the Angels had issued a press release two weeks ago announcing he'd been added.