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Good morning, everybody...
Jeff Wilson has a story on the Rangers' payroll, the lack of available funds to spend, and the team's finances in general.
Jon Daniels and Thad Levine have reportedly each agreed to five year contract extensions with the Rangers, with an announcement expected today.
Evan Grant writes that the extensions show that ownership believes the 2014 season was an aberration.
Grant writes that Daniels says he and A.J. Preller, now general manager of the San Diego Padres, have already engaged in trade discussions and that the two teams line up pretty well, with Grant pointing out that Preller and Don Welke were instrumental in signing many of the prospects the Rangers are now in a position to trade, making it much more likely a deal can be put together.
The Rangers are set to interview Washington Nationals minor league field coordinator Tony Beasley for the vacant third base job.
Stefan Stevenson has some notes on Shin-Soo Choo, Tanner Scheppers and Steve Buechele.
Anthony Andro also has some notes on Choo, Scheppers and Buechele.
The ESPN Rangers blog has some notes on the catching situation, Aaron Poreda and Miles Mikolas on the verge of being sold to Japan, and the Rangers' interest in Cuban defectors Yasmany Tomas and Yoan Moncada. There is an error in there, however, as the article says that the most the Rangers can offer Tomas or Moncada right now is $250,000. Tomas, due to his age, is not subject to the international signing restrictions.
Choo hosted a baseball camp for special needs kids in Southlake yesterday.
