by Sports Xchange

BIGGEST NEEDS: Manager Ron Washington made it very clear in the final week of the season what he believes are the club's most important needs: a veteran starting pitcher, another productive right-handed bat and another left-handed reliever. But before the club can address any of those issues, the question of ownership must be settled. The Rangers are up for sale, and there has been no determination of when the next owner might take over.

FREE AGENTS: RHP Joaquin Benoit, 1B/DH Hank Blalock, OF Marlon Byrd, LHP Eddie Guardado, DH Andruw Jones, C Ivan Rodriguez, INF Omar Vizquel.

While the Rangers are likely to let most of their free agents walk without even casting a second glance, there are decisions to be made on Byrd and Rodriguez. Byrd took over in center field for the injured Josh Hamilton this season, led the team in RBI and further entrenched himself as one of the club's leaders. But he is 32, the Rangers do have financial concerns and his 20-HR, 89-RBI season was the most productive of his career. The Rangers could have signed Byrd to a very affordable two-year deal earlier this year; now it might take three years and closer to $20 million. It's uncertain if a financially strapped club has that kind of money. Rodriguez would like to finish out his career in Texas, which seemed a ludicrous thought when he was acquired, but neither C Jarrod Saltalamacchia nor C Taylor Teagarden had a strong offensive season. And with offense being a shortcoming for the entire team, the club might need to re-examine that.

ARBITRATION-ELIGIBLE: RHP Scott Feldman, RHP Frank Francisco, INF Esteban German, OF Josh Hamilton, RHP Brandon McCarthy, RHP Dustin Nippert, LHP C.J. Wilson.

The mark of a maturing young team is a large arbitration class, which describes the Rangers' situation exactly. There isn't a likely non-tender in the bunch. The bigger question is whether the Rangers will try to lock up any of these players past free agency. Francisco is in his last year under control, and Wilson will be going to arbitration for the second time. The Rangers talked with Hamilton about a long-term deal last winter, but given his injury-plagued, subpar season, such a deal may get put off again. And then there is Feldman, who reached 17 wins in his first full year as a starter.

IN LIMBO: OF Nelson Cruz led the team with 32 home runs but found himself on the bench more than in the lineup in the final 10 days of the season. Cruz will fall just short of qualifying for arbitration this fall. His affordable salary and his home run production this season might give him more value than he has ever previously had. The Rangers could use him to potentially fill one of their needs, while using some combination of Marlon Byrd (if he is re-signed), Josh Hamilton, Julio Borbon and David Murphy in the outfield and DH spots.

MEDICAL WATCH:

RHP Eric Hurley (rotator cuff surgery in January 2009) is expected to be ready for spring training).

LHP Matt Harrison (thoracic outlet syndrome surgery in July 2009) is expected to be ready for spring training.

C Jarrod Saltalamacchia (thoracic outlet syndrome surgery in September 2009) is expected to be ready for spring training.