Tuesday Morning Rangers Update

Good morning, Lone Star Ball. Nate Robertson is finally a Ranger. Could Lastings Milledge or Scott Elarton be far behind?

T.R. Sullivan writes about the Rangers avoiding arbitration (*LEE STEVENS ALERT*) with David Murphy and agreeing on a one-year deal. Also, per Sullivan via Thad Levine, the Rangers will consider negotiating multi-year deals with Murphy and free-agent-to-be Nelson Cruz in the coming months.

Gerry Fraley writes behind the DMN paywall about how the Rangers will probably have the highest payroll in team history in 2013 but, unless they make more moves, will find themselves falling behind other clubs in the money arms race.

Richard Durrett's Surprise position outlook series continues with no surprise at all: Rangers' No. 2 starter Matt Harrison. Well, I suppose it would be a surprise to you if you were reading this from the year 2010.

Fraley blogs that top offseason acquisition Dave Magadan will hold a one-day mini-camp of sorts today. The group will include Leonys Martin and Engel Beltre. Elvis Andrus and Leury Garcia were invited to the workout but declined as they are busy hitting dingers in winterball.

Someone on the DMN staff offers a note on a contradictory sentence Phil Rogers wrote in the Chicago Tribune about how the Rangers are the most likely landing place for Michael Bourn but how folks would be surprised if the Rangers gave up a draft pick to sign him.

Maybe that same person on the DMN staff has written a Prospect Primer about the powerful Nomar Mazara.

Lastly, it just wouldn't be an offseason 2012/13 morning post without some Justin Upton trade fluffing. Mike Newman of Fangraphs breaks down how each team linked to Upton could put together a package to acquire the Diamondbacks right fielder. Newman thinks the Rangers could entice Arizona with a package that includes Mike Olt, Martin Perez, Luis Sardinas and Roman Mendez and that Upton to Texas makes the most sense.