
Rangers News:
The Rangers still wait on Barry Zito but are ready to talk about new closer Eric Gagne.
The Rangers have Boston Red Sox vs. Texas Rangers Tickets called a press conference for 11:30 a.m. CT on Tuesday to officially announce the signing of Gagne to a one-year contract worth $6 Boston Red Sox vs. Texas Rangers Tickets million plus another $5 million in incentives. Gagne underwent a complete physical in Arlington on Monday.
Gagne pitched in just 16 games for the Los Angeles Dodgers the past two seasons Boston Red Sox vs. Texas Rangers Tickets while undergoing elbow and back surgery but had 152 saves as their closer in 2002-2004. He was also the National League Boston Red Sox vs. Texas Rangers Tickets Cy Young Award winner in 2003.
The Rangers have also received a number of trade inquiries about Otsuka, but general manager Boston Red Sox vs. Texas Rangers Tickets Jon Daniels said he's not inclined to move him unless they get Boston Red Sox vs. Texas Rangers Tickets something significant in return. The Rangers may wait until well into Boston Red Sox vs. Texas Rangers Tickets Spring Training to see if Gagne is completely healthy before they Boston Red Sox vs. Texas Rangers Tickets make a move with their bullpen.
Zito is next on the Rangers' agenda, but they are waiting on the New York Mets to make the next move. Zito Boston Red Sox vs. Texas Rangers Tickets and agent Scott Boras are expected to meet face-to-face Boston Red Sox vs. Texas Rangers Tickets with the Mets on Tuesday.
Zito and Boras already have met with the Rangers and received an offer from them. The Boston Red Sox vs. Texas Rangers Tickets San Francisco Giants, according to one source, could be the Boston Red Sox vs. Texas Rangers Tickets "financial wild card" in the situation. Other teams have drifted in and out of the competition, but those three teams appear to be the Boston Red Sox vs. Texas Rangers Tickets most serious contenders for Zito.
Red Sox News:
David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez Boston Red Sox vs. Texas Rangers Tickets are widely regarded as the most feared and productive No. 3 and 4 hitters in the game. They certainly are earning Boston Red Sox vs. Texas Rangers Tickets enough hardware to prove it.
Ramirez collected his eighth consecutive Silver Slugger Award, and ninth overall, while Ortiz won his third straight Friday as voted by Major League coaches and managers.
Ortiz set a Red Sox record by clouting 54 home runs last season, smashing the old record of 50 Boston Red Sox vs. Texas Rangers Tickets set by Jimmie Foxx set in 1938. Big Papi also drove in 137 Boston Red Sox vs. Texas Rangers Tickets runs while hitting .287. His slugging percentage was a remarkable .636, with an on-base percentage of .413, giving him Boston Red Sox vs. Texas Rangers Tickets an eye-popping 1.049 OPS.
He did all of this despite missing eight consecutive games in late August and early Boston Red Sox vs. Texas Rangers Tickets September with heart palpitations.
"David means so much to all Boston Red Sox vs. Texas Rangers Tickets of us, and I think the best thing I can say, probably the most honest thing I can say, is that as good a hitter as he is, he's probably a better person. That's saying something," Red Sox manager Boston Red Sox vs. Texas Rangers Tickets Terry Francona said after Ortiz eclipsed the club's single-season Boston Red Sox vs. Texas Rangers Tickets home run record in late September.
Ramirez added another Silver Slugger Boston Red Sox vs. Texas Rangers Tickets to his treasure chest by pounding 35 homers and driving in 102 runs while hitting .321. Likewise, his expanded Boston Red Sox vs. Texas Rangers Tickets offensive statistics were impressive, slugging at a .619 clip while compiling an on-base of .439 for an OPS of 1.058.
With 470 career homers, he currently ranks seventh among active Major League leaders, and his 234 homers in a Red Sox uniform place him fifth Boston Red Sox vs. Texas Rangers Tickets on the club's all-time list.