General manager Jon Daniels said the Rangers will consider signing pitcher Roy Oswalt in the wake of Neftali Feliz’s elbow injury.

“Everything is on the table,” Daniels said Monday. (T.R. Sullivan – MLBlogs)

Oswalt reportedly wants to sign with someone soon. He recently threw for the Boston Red Sox and Philadelphia Phillies but most importantly threw for the Rangers on Friday. With Texas now in need of a starter things could progress very quickly.

The Rangers will go with Scott Feldman as Neftali’s replacement on Wednesday, after that who knows. Feldman isn’t a guy you want starting long term so I like Oswalt’s chances here of finding a home.

Now if Dr. Andrews gives a negative report on Vance Worley’s elbow then Oswalt is going to have options himself.

Darvish has not thrown from the windup in a Cactus League start this spring, although he did throw from it during an intrasquad game earlier this month.

Throwing from the windup isn’t a necessity, though. Maddux learned that Darvish has thrown primarily out of the stretch for the past two seasons, and that’s OK with him.

“The key for a pitcher is to throw out of the stretch, that’s what you’ve got to get wired in to do,” Maddux said. (Fort Worth Star-Telegram)

I like the that the team is trying to get him to try different things and work on his mechanics already. Better then waiting a couple years till the league catches up with him like coaches have typically down with Japanese players.

Wednesday morning. The sun has come up but Yu Darvish and the Rangers have not reached an agreement yet.

At this moment, they still have 81/2 hours to get it done.

The word this morning is the Rangers optimism has waned a bit. The two sides negotiated late into the night and there are definitely still some differences that have cooled the Rangers optimism.

They still hope to get something done before the 4 p.m. CT deadline. (MLBlogs)

The thing that stands out to me is that the Rangers are no longer optimistic about a deal happening. Early in the process it seemed like a foregone conclusion. So it makes you wonder what has changed? My thinking is it’s Prince Fielder.

I really don’t think that Texas thought they had any chance to land Prince so they just focused on their rotation. Now that they see Fielder would be willing to join them in Arlington they’re playing hardball with Yu, knowing how much money that will free up to land the slugger for many, many years.

That’s just pure speculation on my part but that’s what I think.

So where do Darvish and the Rangers stand on money?

The Rangers are reportedly offering about the same as Dice-K received, so six years at about $52 million. For the team it makes sense after posting over $50 million just to negotiate.

Darvish is looking for a deal that’s five years and around $75 million. For the player it also makes sense. He knows what kind of elite talent he’s bringing to the states and he doesn’t see a dime of that $50 million.

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I’m starting to think a deal won’t get done. That’s a huge gap to overcome in about six hours (at the time of this posting). Can it be done? Yes, but it’s unlikely.

Right-hander Yu Darvish, the Japanese star who is in negotiations for a multiyear contract with Rangers, is in the Metroplex with his father to gain a better understanding of the area and get a first-hand look at the operations of the reigning American League champions.

General manager Jon Daniels confirmed that Darvish is in town after news of a visit surfaced overnight in the Japanese media. Daniels declined to discuss the details of Darvish’s trip, but he isn’t expected to be in town much longer. Darvish is planning to start his preseason workouts this week in Japan. (Jeff Wilson of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram)

I highly doubt that Darvish leaves with a signed deal in hand. This really sounds like it’s just a fact finding visit, something to help him make his decision when the time comes.

“He isn’t [there] for a press conference,” the baseball source told the Telegram.

There’s no rush as the Rangers have till January 18th to complete a deal.

Four American League contenders — the Rangers, Angels, Red Sox, and Blue Jays — have shown interest in free-agent left-hander Darren Oliver, a major-league source told FOXSports.com.

Oliver, 41, is coming off a season in which he posted a career-low 2.29 ERA in 61 relief appearances for the Texas Rangers.

Oliver pitched for the Red Sox (2002) and Angels (2007-2009) earlier in his career.

Oliver has reached the postseason in each of the last six years but is still looking for his first World Series ring. So, he is almost certain to sign with a team that has a realistic chance of winning it all in 2012. He lives with his family in the Dallas area, so a return to the Rangers would be easiest from a personal standpoint. (FOX Sports)

With all of these teams involved now his price tag has definitely gone up. In 2011 he made $3.25 million with the Rangers and could get more then that if a bidding war ensues.

Who would have ever thought that so many teams would be interested in a 41-year old? I guess when you’re a lefty and coming off the best season in years, possibly his career, I guess that will happen.

@Ken_Rosenthal: Source: #Twins also on Buehrle, joining #Nationals, #Marlins, #Rangers. Offer not as strong. Others believed 3 yrs in $36-39M range. #MLB

If Rosenthal’s information is correct then I’m a little surprised at the dollar value but they’re very fair offers. I expected more of a $14-15 million per salary, but $12-13 isn’t bad at all. Especially when you look at his age, 32 and the amount of innings he’s thrown.

My thinking is if all teams are within the same salary range then it will come down to what team gives him a better chance to win another championship by the time he retires. Does he go with the Rangers who’ve been to the last two World Series, a team that he’d actually be an ace for right now if they don’t re-sign C.J. Wilson.

Or does he go with the Marlins a team who is spending like madmen this winter as they get ready to move into their new stadium. They’ve already signed Heath Bell and Jose Reyes but said there’s still money left in the bank to upgrade the rotation.

Or does he join the Nationals who are a young up and coming team in a very competitive division. They might be the furthest away from championship contention but boy do they have a nice nucleus. Does Buehrle want to join a team that he may not really be able to win with till the end of that contract?

The Twins, I don’t think will play a part if their offer isn’t close to the other guys.

Should be interesting to see who he picks, he can’t go wrong either way.

“Obviously, I would love to hand the ball to John Danks 30-plus times,’’ Ventura said Thursday. ‘‘Gavin Floyd, the same thing, and have Carlos [Quentin] in right field. It’s kind of a wish list, but I don’t think I know what will happen. That’s the interesting thing about going [to the winter meetings].’’ (Joe Cowley – Chicago Sun-Times)

Danks is one of the Sox biggest bargaining trips especially with him still making less then $10 million. He’s arbitration eligible this off season and should only get a raise to about $7 or $8 million after an off year.

That’s right an off year, which was still good enough for a 4.33 ERA over 27 starts, with 135 strikeouts over 170 innings. In the three prior seasons his ERA ranged from 3.32 to 3.77 and around 200 innings per season. He’ll be 27 at the start of the season, so I’d expect him to back bounce to his career norms.

I’m sure Williams is expecting the same which would explain his asking prices. Cowley reports that the asking price is apparently very high, maybe too high.

Several major-league sources, as well as a Sox source, confirmed to the Sun-Times that Williams has been shopping Danks as next week’s winter meetings draw closer. The Sox are set to move the left-handed starter rather than have him go through one last year of arbitration, then free agency.

One problem.

“Kenny asked for everyone on our roster in return,’’ a source said. (Joe Cowley – Chicago Sun-Times)

If Williams is serious about rebuilding this team it will have to come down from “everyone on our roster”. I’m pretty sure that price will come down, especially when the Winter Meetings start next week. He’s most likely just trying to build Danks up and make it look like the team really doesn’t want to trade him.

One thing is for sure though and that’s the White Sox should get a decent haul back for Danks. He’s in his final season under team control and only going to be 27 years old. On top of that he’s a left handed pitcher, always in demand.

What I can’t figure out is what teams that will be in play. If they pay a ransom for him they’re going to want a legitimate chance at signing him to an extension. With his prior success it means he’ll be expensive. One team that could afford him is Texas Rangers, a team we’ve mentioned before.

@Ken_Rosenthal: #Rangers can’t be ruled out on starters. Have shown strong interest in Garza in past. #Cubs’ new regime willing to move him. #Cubs #MLB

This tweet was actually pretty interesting to me as many have said the Rangers would be out of the market for a starting pitcher after signing a closer. So who do you believe Ken Rosenthal or everyone else? I’d go with Ken.

I don’t see how the Rangers are out of the market for a starter. Yes, Neftali Feliz will be in the starting rotation but who knows how the adjustment will go. Will he succeed? Will his arm hold up? The Rangers would be smart to add another starter, just in case.

But anyways back to the Cubs and their willingness to move Garza. He was a player the Boston Red Sox really wanted as compensation but the Cubs were wise to decline. He’s too good to be used as piece to acquire a front office guy. He’s young, 27, and still has two years under team control.

In 2011, he made $5.95 million and should get a raise but would still be under $10 million. For his type of production, 3.32 ERA over 198 innings with 197 strikeouts, that kind of salary would be a HUGE bargain.

Thanks to that, the Cubs can expect a BIG return and sorry Sox fans Theo Epstein isn’t that big. I can see why Theo wants to place him on the market, he’ll be able to bring in quite a few players while he tries to rebuild the organization.

The Angels’ pursuit of free-agent pitcher C.J. Wilson will continue Monday night when Manager Mike Scioscia and General Manager Jerry Dipoto have dinner with the veteran left-hander in Los Angeles. The meeting was confirmed by a source familiar with the situation but not authorized to speak publicly about it because of the sensitive nature of talks. (Los Angeles Times)

No word on if owner Arte Moreno will join the dinner but it’s no big deal if he does. Owner and player already have a relationship after the latest CBA negotiations. Moreno has also already had dinner with Wilson’s agent Bob Garber that lasted three hours last week. So the seeds are planted but its now time for the manager and player to see if they can co-exist.

Once these intimate dinners like this start to occur you know the contract offers are going to follow. Even if Wilson wants to be an Angel I wouldn’t expect a decision anytime soon as he’s still scheduled to meet with East Coast teams after the Thanksgiving holiday.

If Los Angeles can pull this off it would be a major coup and could catapult them back to the top of the American League West. If not well they’ll still be aggressive as they know pitching is what they need to get back on top.

Darren Oliver wants to pitch next season. And he’d prefer to do it with the Texas Rangers.

“Obviously this is my first choice, no doubt,” said Oliver, a free agent.

Oliver has pitched the last two years with the Rangers, and makes his home in the DFW area. (Star-Telegram)

Like I said the lefty pitched quite well going 5-5 with a 2.29 ERA over 51 innings pitched. Even more impressive is that the aging veteran isn’t just a lefty specialist, he turned out to be pretty solid against all hitters. He actually faced more righties then lefties in 2011.

Oliver made $3.25 million last season and should receive similar compensation should he play. I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Rangers pay it either.