No progress in contract talks with free agent Oswalt
--The Rangers remain in a holding pattern with RHP Roy Oswalt about a potential contract. While the sides have met, the Rangers continue to try to move some money around to make room for Oswalt. Texas is trying to trade RHP Koji Uehar ($4 million) to balance the budget. In order to sign Oswalt, the team would likely have to move RHP Mark Lowe or RHP Scott Feldman.
--After a two-month battle with a bacterial stomach infection, OF Nelson Cruz said he lost about 10 pounds and intends to play slightly slimmer this year. That, in addition to working on strength and agility in Miami, has Cruz hopeful he'll be able to play 140 or more games for the first time in his career. "Everything I'm doing is new to me," he said. "I feel great. My legs feel stronger and more flexible than ever."
--The Rangers hired Shayne Kelley as a staff assistant who will help support OF Josh Hamilton's daily battle for sobriety. Kelley, who has worked in the Kansas City organization and also on the collegiate level at Alabama, Jacksonville State and Samford, will also help with strength and conditioning. Hamilton had a well-publicized slipup with sobriety on January 30.
--RHP Yu Darvish left Japan on Friday to travel to Los Angeles. Darvish will continue to work out in Los Angeles for 10 days before reporting to camp with the rest of the Rangers' pitchers and catchers on Feb. 22.
--INF Luis Hernandez's recent experience with Venezuela in the Caribe Series might give him a slight head start on the four-man battle for the utility infielder spot on the roster. Hernandez, 27, with compete with INFs Alberto Gonzalez, Yangervis Solarte and Greg Miclat for a spot as the backup middle infielder. The job will essentially consist of backing up SS Elvis Andrus for the Rangers hope no more than 10-15 starts.
BY THE NUMBERS
5 -- Number of trips to the DL for lower-extremity muscle strains for OF Nelson Cruz in the last two years. Cruz has spent the last month in Miami trying to improve his power and agility and has also lost some weight to try and prevent injury.
QUOTE TO NOTE
"It has been difficult. You always want to finish your goal, especially when you go to the World Series in back-to-back years. We didn't make it so now we have to get over it. It's part of life. You have to keep fighting. That's everybody. We have to make sure we get better, the whole team, and make it back there and win it." -- Outfielder Nelson Cruz on dealing with the fallout from missing a fly ball in the ninth inning of Game 6 of the World Series that would have clinched the championship for the Rangers.
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