D

From The Rangers Beat: Friday Notes

BOSTON – With the MLB draft coming up next week, the signing period for Latin American players beginning next month and the trading deadline arriving at the end of July, the questions surrounding a team for sale are often about finances.

Rangers owner Tom Hicks, however, said that his search for significant investment – even if it means selling majority ownership in the team – will not impact his management’s team ability to acquire talent.

“It’s business as usual,” Hicks wrote in an email this week about how the club might be impacted by the uncertain future of ownership.

While the Rangers haven’t had much need to add payroll at the trade deadline the last few years, they have shown a willingness to break from the “slotting” program recommended by MLB as a way to control bonuses for draft picks. They also have invested significantly in Latin American talent. Last year, the Rangers paid 1B Justin Smoak a $3.5 million bonus, more than $1 million above his recommended slot. In recent seasons, they’ve made notable exceptions to the slot system for OF Julio Borbon and RHP Neil Ramirez (2006) and INF Marcus Lemon (2006).

The Rangers have been strongly connected to Latin American teen Guillermo Pimentel and Jurickson Profar, another teen from Curacao. The Latin American signing period does not start until early July and is kept exceptionally hush-hush. But it does not appear the Rangers have shied away from their previous plans.

Glavine interest minimal: Jettisoned by Atlanta, 43-year-old LHP Tom Glavine remains interested in pitching and says he’s been contacted already by several clubs. Could the Rangers be a fit? After all Glavine was close with Greg Maddux and Maddux’s brother, Mike, is now the Rangers pitching coach. And a veteran lefty like Glavine might just make a good mentor for young lefties like Matt Harrison and Derek Holland.

“Unlikely,” is what a Rangers official told me.

The Rangers appear willing to move forward with what they’ve got, which is potentially six starters, if they don’t do anything with Padilla. If the Rangers make a move, it’s much more likely to be for somebody at the front end of the rotation such as Roy Halladay (if the Blue Jays can’t stop their skid), Roy Oswalt (if the Astros ever make a decision about their future) or Cliff Lee.  Adding to the back of the rotation right now doesn’t seem prudent or in line with the club’s philosophy.

Washington a “lame duck?” ESPN’s Howard Bryant says so. He might not be a wounded duck, but I’m not so sure he’s gone lame yet.

Washington is in the final year of his contract, which is a sign of potential “lameness.” He was nearly fired last year, also symptomatic of lameness. But he’s got the club in first place and playing well and playing hard. The jury may be out on Washington’s future and in this day and age of making prudent business decisions, it may take the full season for the Rangers to evaluate Washington.

Shelby Miller out of playoffs: Jeff Miller sends along this link that RHP Shelby Miller, projected in a pair of Baseball America mock drafts to be the Rangers’ choice at No. 14, was ousted from the Texas High School baseball playoffs Thursday. What I like most about the story is that Andrews’ 1B is named Malachi Melton. I’d draft the kid somewhere on name alone.

Briefly: OF Nelson Cruz said he was a little surprised that Yankees RHP A.J. Burnett received a six-game suspension for throwing near his head on Wednesday night. Cruz said Burnett apologized immediately after throwing the pitch and also sent a clubhouse attendant to the Rangers clubhouse Thursday to extend apologieis again. “When it was over, it was over as far as I was concerned,” Cruz said. “But I guess if you are going to throw at somebody, you shouldn’t throw at their head.” … Manager Ron Washington said OF Brandon Boggs would get his first start since his callup earlier this week on Saturday. … INF Jose Vallejo was activated from the DL on Friday at Triple-A Oklahoma City. INF German Duran replaced him on the DL.