Jurickson in Surprise – USA TODAY Sports

Jurickson Profar has opted out of the World Baseball Classic and playing for the Netherlands.

Profar had some pressure from his fellow countrymen to play in the WBC, despite the fact that it had apparently been made known to him that playing in the WBC would reduce his chances of making the Rangers’ Opening Day roster by the team. 

Adrian Beltre, meanwhile, will not play in at least the first round of the WBC because of a “tweaked” calf. An injury that isn’t serious.

Photo credit: Fantasyknucleheads.com

The Rangers and Matt Harrison have agreed to a five year, $55 million contract with an option for a sixth year. The 2018 is an option that can possibly vest.

“Harrison gets a $1 million signing bonus and annual salaries worth $5 million, $8 million, $13 million, $13 million and $13 million. The club option is $13.25 million but can escalate to $15.75 million. The club holds the option, with a $2 million buyout, but it becomes a vesting option if Harrison works 200 innings in each of the final three years of the deal.” [via Jeff Wilson, Fort Worth-Star Telegram]

The left-hander posted an ERA of 3.29 in 2012 for the Rangers, in 213.1 innings pitched over 32 starts. He has been an important part in the rotation, pitching 185.1 innings in 2011. Drafted by Atlanta he was traded to Texas as part of the Mark Teixeira-trade that sent the first baseman to the Braves.

The extension will buy out 3 years of his free agency. The Rangers now have Harrison, Darvish, Holland signed thru ’17, Holland ’18, Ogando ’16. This is what Jon Daniels and company call ”sticking to the plan.”

Last offseason the Rangers also inked Ian Kinsler to an extension thru ’17, as the club continues to identify it’s core moving forward.

Evin Thayer Photography, Houston, Texas
EvinThayer.com

Lance Berkman the prodical son returns to Texas after signing a one year/$10M deal with the Rangers. The deal includes a vesting option for the 2014 season that kicks in at 550 plate appearances as well as a $1M buyout. Berkman gives Texas a designated hitter after Michael Young was dealt to the Phillies. Berkman because of his knees, should see VERY limited time at first base, if any.

Berkman made just 97 plate appearances last season as he battled a recurring knee issue that required two surgeries. He was going to retire, but the promise on another lucrative contract was enough to entice him back into playing in 2013. In 2011, he was fantastic, hitting .301/.412/.547 in 587 plate appearances for the Cardinals. A return to the American League could help the 36 year old slugger stay healthy as he can play DH regularly.

The addition of Berkman helps replace the offense the Rangers have lost this off-season. Josh Hamilton left Texas for the rival Angels earlier this winter and Mike Napoli appears Boston bound, though contract negotiations have stalled as a result of medical issues.

I think the addition now of catcher A.J. Pierzynski, a full season of top prospects, Mike Olt and Jurickson Profar and now Berkman almost, if not, make up for the offense lost with Hamilton, Napoli, and Young. Of course I still think the Rangers make a move, possibly including Olt in a deal for another bat before spring training or in July before the trade deadline.

The Texas Rangers have added right-handed reliever Jason Frasor to a one-year deal.

Frasor, 35, and has spent his entire career with Toronto was 1-1 with a 4.12 ERA in 43 2/3 innings last season. He has been a set-up man throughout his career but has some experience as a closer.

Frasor is a strikeout pitcher. Frasor had 53 strikeouts for a career-high rate of 10.9 strikeouts per nine innings last season.

Frasor missed nearly two months in the second half because of forearm tightness. It marked the first time Frasor had been on the disabled list in a nine-year major-league career.

Frasor can overwhelm right-handed hitters with a fastball-slider combination. Right-handed hitters had 35 strikeouts in 98 at-bats against him last season.

Frasor earned $3.75 million last season. He will make $1.5 million in 2013. That’s more than what Mark Lowe, who is a free agent made in 2012.

Bottom line Frasor strikes out a lot of guys, walks a lot of guys, and gives up a fair number of home runs while throwing hard. Think of him as the new Mark Lowe.

To make room for Frasor on the 40-man major-league roster, the club designated catcher Eli Whiteside for assignment. It is the fourth time since Nov. 1 that Whiteside has been designated for assignment by a club.

In the revamped Rangers bullpen, the new guys, Soria, Frasor, & Lindblom will cost a combined $6 million in 2013.

The Rangers have acquired catcher Eli Whiteside on waivers from Toronto. They have also signed Brandon Snyder to a Minor League contract. Whiteside, 33, has now been claimed on waivers by three different clubs this offseason. He had been acquired by Toronto in a waiver claim from the Yankees. The Yankees acquired him in a waiver claim from the Giants. Whiteside had been arbitration-eligible for 2013, but signed a contract with the Yankees in November, which makes him a signed player for next season

Via T.R. Sullivan:

The Rangers have been told that Zack Greinke is not signing with them, according to industry sources. It appears the Dodgers are going to sign him for a six-year deal. But the Rangers are out.

Now the dominoes should start falling.

According to USA Today’s Bob Nightengale, Michael Young has agreed to go to the Philadelphia Phillies, who will start the 36-year-old at third base.  Texas will apparently send Philadelphia $10 million toward Young’s $16 million salary for 2013.

Young will reportedly get $1.2 million in benefits as part of the deal (in part, to account for the tax consequence now that he’ll be subject to state income tax), and also get a full no-trade clause (which he’d lose otherwise in the deal, as the “5” part of the 10/5 rule that entitled him to his present no-trade rights vanish with the change in teams).

Young, according to Nightengale, told the Phillies he did not want a contract extension, a signal that he wants to choose his own destination in 2014.

The Rangers have not confirmed the trade, but Nightengale expects a formal announcement from both clubs this afternoon.

The Rangers will receive 25-year-old RHP Josh Lindblom and a minor leaguer, believed to be 22-year-old RHP Lisalverto Bonilla. Lindblom would definitely go into the Rangers’ bullpen as a sixth-inning or later option. Bonilla, who had 64 strikeouts in 46.1 innings split between Class A and Double-A in 2012, would likely not be an option for the major league club at the start of the season.

Michael Young, was the the guiding force in the Rangers clubhouse and on the field for the last decade as the team stormed to prominence. Although in the twilight of his career, he was a part of the two greatest seasons in franchise history in 2011-12.

“Mike’s the glue that holds everybody together,” OF David Murphy said Friday on XM Radio of the possibility of losing Young. “He’s a great player regardless of what type of year that he had last year. I think every player is allowed an off year here or there regardless of whether you are a superstar or whether you’re an average player.

“Mike’s definitely been in that superstar/All-Star status for a long time and didn’t live up to his own standards last year. But he’s just a guy that he creates a great atmosphere in our clubhouse regardless of whether you are a rookie, whether you’ve been around a long time, whether you’re a player that has just signed as a free agent or traded for. Everybody feels welcome in our clubhouse and everybody gets along.”

Refer back to what Jason Parks said and as a fan of this team let’s remember all the wonder things he’s done for it and us. The community will miss him as well as he donated a lot of time and money to charities with the Michael Young foundation. So let me just say thanks for everything you’ve meant to this team, this city, and the fans.

Michael Young’s tenure here lasted from 7/19/2000 to 12/8/2012. That’s 12 years, 4 months, 20 days. Over 4,200 days. He leaves here as leader in games played and the all-time hits leader. If there’s anything I regret with this, it’s that the Rangers never managed to win the big one with him here.

I think I’ll wear my Young t-shirt I bought 12 years ago when he was a rookie one last time.

Photo: Michael Young holds the 2011 American League trophy as Ron Washington smiles and looks on.