Texas
Rangers

News: Vizquel is close to signing a one-year deal with the White Sox, FOXSports.com reports.
Impact: If he signs, Vizquel will likely serve as a backup at second, third and shortstop for the White Sox. 

News: The Chicago White Sox are closing in on a contract agreement with Vizquel.
Impact: The deal could be announced as soon as Monday, according to a person familiar with the negotiations who spoke on condition of anonymity because the team has not commented. Vizquel, who will be 43 in April, has played 21 major league seasons. Last year he was in a utility role with the Texas Rangers, playing shortstop, third base and second base while appearing in 62 games. He batted .266. 

News: White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen has confirmed to the Chicago Sun-Times that the club has talked to Vizquel.
Impact: Vizquel has indicated he wants to come back for a 22nd season in the majors. 

News: Fox Sports' Ken Rosenthal reports that the Chicago White Sox are close to signing Omar Vizquel to a one-year deal to be a reserve shortstop.
Impact: Well, the White Sox certainly don't need to get any older, but even at age 42, you won't find a better defensive sub at short than Vizquel.  

News: Hamilton was cleared to begin offseason workouts on Monday as tests revealed no pinched nerves in his back, the Dallas Morning News reports.
Impact: Rather than training in Arizona on his own as he did last winter, Hamilton is going to work with Rangers strength and conditioning coach Jose Vazquez in order to get a better regimen designed for his specific injuries and to reduce his chances of suffering from similar issues in 2010. Injuries limited him to just 336 at-bats for the Rangers last season and the results weren't great -- .268/.315/.426, 10 HR and 54 RBI -- so there's a good chance he'll be discounted on draft day this spring. 

News: Vizquel is unlikely to return to Texas, the Dallas Morning News reports.
Impact: It sounds as if Texas is interested in bringing Vizquel back, but Vizquel would like to go somewhere where he'll get more playing time. 

News: Blalock is on the White Sox's list as a designated hitter for 2010, ESPN-AM 1000 in Chicago reports.
Impact: Blalock is on the list along with Hideki Matsui and Jim Thome. This might be a stretch because the White Sox might be at their budgetary limit with the pickups of Jake Peavy and Alex Rios last season. 

News: Scheppers, who pitched a scoreless frame in the Arizona Fall League Rising Stars Game on Saturday, has a 9:2 K:BB ratio and just five hits allowed in nine AFL appearances.
Impact: He's got a slightly unusual delivery, but Scheppers has been lighting up the radar gun at 99 mph with his fastball in Arizona this fall. In addition to a plus fastball, Scheppers also throws a very tough curveball. Since he didn't make a debut in the Rangers' system in 2009, Scheppers will likely have to make his ascent through the minors in 2010, but a late-season callup isn't out of the question if he's able to overpower the opposition as expected. He's been pitching out of the bullpen in the AFL, while working in relief will undoubtedly accelerate his timetable to the big leagues. 

News: Vizquel has filed for free agency.
Impact: The Rangers are trying to bring him back as a utility option behind a strong starting quartet in their infield. Vizquel hit .266/.316/.345 in a limited role with the Rangers in 2009. 

News: Rodriguez has filed for free agency.
Impact: He's believed to be seeking a two-year deal, so the financial side plus the fact that the Rangers still have a fair amount of young catching depth could lead him elsewhere during free agency. 

News: Jones has filed for free agency.
Impact: He hit 17 homers in 281 at-bats for the Rangers this season, but Jones struggled to a .214/.323/.459 line. Even though he was more productive at home, Jones was still displaying good power on the road and he should draw some interest as a low-cost dart somewhere this winter as a free agent. 

News: Guardado has filed for free agency.
Impact: He'll likely retire after a mediocre season as a 38-year-old in the Texas bullpen. If Guardado calls it quits, he'll finish with 187 career saves in 908 career MLB appearances 

News: Blalock has filed for free agency.
Impact: He won't be back with Texas in 2010. Blalock will have to try and latch on with another AL club, as it's unlikely that he can stay healthy enough to get by without the luxury of a DH spot. 

News: Benoit (shoulder) has filed for free agency.
Impact: He may have to take a minor-league deal in order to draw interest on the open market, but the Rangers may decide that Benoit can be replaced by younger, healthier alternatives from within. 

News: Benoit, on the 60-day disabled list recovering from right rotator cuff surgery, is expected to miss the rest of the season.
Impact: Benoit went 3-2 with a 5.00 ERA in 44 relief appearances last season. 

News: Byrd officially filed for free agency on Thursday.
Impact: He's expressed a desire to remain with Texas, but with a long-term contract only. It remains to be seen if Texas will decide to bring Byrd back. 

News: The Rangers would like to re-sign outfielder Marlon Byrd, but realize that he may find a better deal elsewhere on the free agent market, according to MLB.com. GM Jon Daniels said, "Marlon was obviously a big part of our club. To his credit, he has put himself in a position to see what is out there, and he is going to explore that. We are going to explore our own alternatives, including the guys we already have. In a perfect world, we would like to have Marlon back. It is just not going to happen in the exclusive window period, if it is going to happen at all."
Impact: A right-handed bat is a top priority for Texas, and the source states that the club may target Jermaine Dye as a stopgap if they do not lock up Byrd with a new deal. 

News: The Rangers have been in serious talks regarding re-signing Omar Vizquel, according to MLB.com.
Impact: Vizquel can still get the job done defensively, and batted .266 over 177 at-bats with Texas in 2009. He would serve as a quality backup behind Elvis Andrus at shortstop if brought back for next season.  

News: According to the Dallas Morning News, the Rangers are expected to hire former Rockies manager Clint Hurdle as the organization's new hitting coach.
Impact: With incumbent Rudy Jaramillo bolting for a three-year deal with the Cubs, the Rangers seem to have settled on Hurdle. He appears to be the top candidate out of a group that included Thad Bosley, Rusty Greer and Gerald Perry. 

News: Richarson signed a minor league deal with the Rangers on Thursday.
Impact: He'll be invited to spring training, but it's unlikely that he'll open the 2010 season on the Rangers' 25-man roster unless injuries eat away at their depth behind the plate. 

News: Teagarden will report to the Arizona Fall League instead of playing winter ball in the Dominican Republic.
Impact: Teagarden sat in favor of Pudge Rodriguez most nights down the stretch, but figures to enter next season as Texas' co-catcher with Jarrod Saltalmacchia.