Monday Morning Rangers Update

The Seattle Mariners are already in Arizona getting their terrible season underway. Baseball is back!

Here's a quote from the article that, to me, explains the difference between the Mariners and Oakland A's:

Seattle started spring training a week ahead of other teams because it will open its season early, on March 28 in Japan against Oakland. The Athletics chose not to begin early.

"An entire extra week of having to be the Oakland A's? I'd rather not." - Anyone involved with the A's. Both of those teams are going to be bad this season, but at least the Mariners still care about it.

Anthony Andro writes on how the Rangers appear finished signing players this offseason and are currently even a little over their projected budget.

Jeff Wilson weighs in on what is likely the conclusion of the offseason for the Rangers. Wilson has quotes from Jon Daniels on if the team would still consider signing a Roy Oswalt or Mike Gonzalez. Daniels also talks about potential extension discussions now that getting arbitration eligible players signed is no longer the primary focus.

Behind the DMN paywall, Gerry Fraley worrywarts about if the Rangers have any financial flexibility.

T.R. Sullivan has a Spring Training primer up now that we're within ten days before pitchers and catchers report. Sullivan has some questions that need answering in Surprise, a roster rundown, and a write-up on new players, prospects, and players not returning in 2012.

Fraley has a blog post up where he writes that the Rangers expect Josh Hamilton to arrive at Spring Training on time. Fraley also notes that Hamilton's extension talks are still currently tabled.

Richard Durrett continues his positional outlook series with a write-up on the Rangers' long/middle relief corps.

Finally, in case you missed it, here is MLB.com's Jonathan Mayo with his sort-of-bizarre Rangers' Top 20 Prospects list. ROBBIE ROSS HELIUM!