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OFFSEASON PLAYER MOVEMENT

Players signed	Players lost
OF Doug Glanville (free agent)	RHP Hideki Irabu (released)
RHP Danny Kolb (re-signed)	LHP John Rocker (released)
C Todd Greene (re-signed)	LHP Juan Alvarez (released)
RHP Ugueth Urbina (free agent)	OF Frank Catalanotto (free agent/Blue Jays)
RHP Esteban Yan (free agent)	OF Todd Hollandsworth (free agent/Marlins)
LHP Aaron Fultz (free agent)	OF Calvin Murray (free agent/Dodgers*)
RHP John Thomson (free agent)	C Ivan Rodriguez (free agent/Marlins)
RHP Rudy Seanez (re-signed*)	LHP Rich Rodriguez (free agent/Angels*)
RHP Ismael Valdes (free agent)	LHP Kenny Rogers (free agent)
OF Ryan Christenson (free agent*)	LHP Dennys Reyes (free agent/Pirates*)
OF Ruben Sierra (free agent*)
Acquired via trade	Players traded
C Einar Diaz, RHP Ryan Drese (Indians)	1B Travis Hafner, RHP Aaron Myette
*Minor-league deal

Complete List | 2002 Free Agents

Hicks battles hearing loss


	Hicks

Owner Tom Hicks is being treated for a hearing problem that has left him deaf in his left ear and with 70 percent hearing in his right. Hicks sensed the hearing loss during a business outing in California last month, the Dallas Morning News reported. Doctors believe the hearing loss was caused by a viral infection that robbed him of his left-side hearing and all but 20 percent of his right-side hearing. Hicks is being treated with steroids that have largely restored his right-side hearing. His left ear is being treated with a pump that sends liquid steroid directly to the inner ear.

Hot Stove: Rangers
In the Feb. 5 edition of Hot Stove Heaters, ESPN.com's Rob Neyer examines the Rangers:
At this moment, the Rangers boast the game's No. 1 minor-league prospect, third baseman Mark Teixeira. He's slated to open the season in Triple-A, but he's also expected to reach the majors sometime in 2003, and the switch-hitter should annually bat .300 and hit 40 homers once he's got his sea legs. In addition, Hank Blalock, though he didn't play well as a rookie in 2002, is still only 22 and figures to become a star in the not-so-distant future. That would give the Rangers two outstanding young hitters at positions – first base, third base, DH – where you want outstanding hitters if you hope to score enough runs to compete.

Rogers: Plenty of infield options | Minor-league report

Hi Sierra: Ruben returns


	Sierra

Outfielder Ruben Sierra agreed Jan. 27 to a minor-league contract with the Rangers, getting the chance for another comeback with the team for which the former All-Star started his career. Sierra was invited to spring training as a non-roster player. He is guaranteed $90,000, and if added to the major-league roster would get a $600,000, one-year contract and the chance to earn $200,000 more in performance bonus. If he isn't added to the roster by the March 30 opener at Anaheim, Sierra could request his release. "He left a lot of money on the table from other places, but Texas is where his heart was," said Sierra's agent, Chuck Berry. Sierra spent last season with Seattle, batting .270 with 13 homers and 60 RBI in 122 games.

GAMMONS: MOUND OF OPTIMISM

The Rangers know their pitching has to be better, but then it would be tough to be worse than their 5.15 ERA, or starters' ERA of 5.26 last season. When John Thomson signed, it gave Texas two starters – along with Chan Ho Park – who won nine games last year. That is why Colby Lewis, Joaquin Benoit, Doug Davis, Ryan Drese and Ben Koslowski will be given every chance to prove themselves.

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AUDIO/VIDEO
Video Lone Star
Buck Showalter is hoping for a quick turnaround with the Rangers.
Standard | Cable Modem

New Skipper
Texas GM John Hart ended up with the manager he wanted.
Standard | Cable Modem

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ULTIMATE STANDINGS

See how the Rangers fare among all 121 professional sports teams.

SportsNation's Ultimate Standings

Where do the Rangers rank?

"It's significant because it seems like every time he finalizes a divorce, he comes back with a monster year."
– Dallas Morning News columnist Evan Grant on OF Juan Gonzalez settling the details on his fourth divorce recently

2002 AMERICAN LEAGUE WEST
TEAM	W	L	PCT	GB
Oakland	103	59	.636	-
Anaheim	99	63	.611	4.0
Seattle	93	69	.574	10.0
Texas	72	90	.444	31.0
Complete Standings

TX Rangers 2000 Replica Home Jersey Our Price: $77.99	TX Rangers Replica Road Jersey Our Price: $88.99
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NEWS AND NOTES

The Rangers agreed to one-year contracts with five players Feb. 4: OF Kevin Mench, LHP Mario Ramos, C Gerald Laird and RHPs Reynaldo Garcia and Travis Hughes.

The Rangers and RHP Francisco Cordero agreed to a $900,000, one-year contract on Jan. 29. Cordero had been the last unsigned Rangers player in salary arbitration.

The Marlins and 10-time All-Star C Ivan Rodriguez agreed on a $10 million, one-year contract on Jan. 22.

The Rangers finished their offseason shopping Jan. 15 by bringing back starting pitcher Ismael Valdes. The 29-year-old Valdes signed a $2.5 million, one-year deal to return to the club he played for last season until being sent to Seattle in August.

The Rangers will open their season March 30 against the Angels, a day earlier than originally scheduled.

KURKJIAN: BUCK STOPS HERE

The last division to have all teams .500 or better was the seven-team AL West in 1991. That could happen this year. New manager Buck Showalter, who wins wherever he has been, won't settle for less.

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ON THE FARM

Minor league affiliates:
Oklahoma RedHawks (AAA):
    Sched./Results | Stats | Official Site
Frisco RoughRiders (AA):
    Sched./Results | Stats | Official Site
Clinton Lumberkings (A):
    Stats | Official Site
Stockton Ports (A):
    Stats | Official Site
Spokane Indians (R):
    Official Site
Gulf Coast Rangers (R)


AVG	A. Rodriguez	.300
HR	A. Rodriguez	57
RBI	A. Rodriguez	142
RUN	A. Rodriguez	125
SB	2 tied @	9
WIN	K. Rogers	13
SV	H. Irabu	16
ERA	K. Rogers	3.84
Complete Team Statistics: Batting \| Pitching


C	E. Diaz	ROTATION
1B	R. Palmeiro	C. Park
2B	M. Young	J. Thomson
3B	H. Blalock	C. Lewis
SS	A. Rodriguez	R. Drese
LF	C. Everett	R. Bell
CF	D. Glanville	CLOSER
RF	K. Mench	U. Urbina
DH	J. Gonzalez


Feb 8: Agreed to terms with infielders Jason Hart and Mike Lamb on one-year contracts.
Feb 5: Agreed to terms on one-year contracts with pitchers Reynaldo Garcia, Travis Hughes and Mario Ramos, catcher Gerald Laird and outfielder Kevin Mench.
Jan 30: Agreed to terms with pitcher Francisco Cordero on a one-year contract.
Complete Team Transactions


No significant injuries.