According to Major League sources, there is a “pretty good chance” that reliever Koji Uehara is going to get traded soon. The Rangers, who acquired him from the Orioles on July 30 for Tommy Hunter and Chris Davis, would likely get prospects in return.

The Rangers had a deal worked out with the Blue Jays but Uehara exercised his limited no-trade clause on that one. There are still a number of teams that are interested in Uehara and the Rangers like what they are hearing as far as what they can get in return.

Uehara has become available since the signing of Yu Darvish because the Rangers have told Alexi Ogando there is a good chance that he could end up back in the bullpen.

Club officials also admit the Rangers are exploring the possibility of signing free agent pitcher Roy Oswalt because the price has come down and he wants to pitch in Texas. He also wants to start and the Rangers don’t have room in the rotation.

The Rangers view him as a luxury item as protection against injury. But if nobody gets hurt, the Rangers know the situation might get “messy.”

With Prince Fielder going to Detroit, it looks like Koji Uehara is stayin Texas.

The Blue Jays had interest in Uehara but a deal fell through, possibly because he wouldn’t waive his no-trade clause. The Blue Jays have signed reliever Francisco Cordero.

The Orioles would love Uehara back but haven’t been able to work out a deal with the Rangers. According to a source, the Rangers have a high asking price which is understandable considering they gave up Tommy Hunter and Chris Davis to get him in the first place.

The Rangers have signed pitchers Sean Green and Mitch Stetter to Minor League contracts. They will get Spring Training invitations.

The Rangers have signed first baseman-outfielder Brad Hawpe to a Minor League contract. He gives the Rangers some depth at first base in case Mitch Moreland is not ready.
The Rangers have scheduled a Major news conference for Friday night. Wait a minute, that is for Yu Darvish.

But Hawpe is a Fort Worth-area native and a former All-Star, and a terrific person. Here is the Rangers release:

The Texas Rangers announced today that the club has signed free agent first baseman-outfielder Brad Hawpe to a 2012 minor league contract that includes an invitation to major league spring training camp.

Hawpe, 32, spent the 2011 season with San Diego, batting .231 with 4 homers and 19 RBI in 62 games. The left-handed hitter and thrower started 42 games at first base and seven in right field for the Padres, his first season playing primarily at 1B. He was placed on the disabled list on June 21 and was sidelined for the season after undergoing Tommy John ligament transplant surgery on his left elbow on June 26. Hawpe became a free agent on October 30 when his mutual option was declined by San Diego.

Hawpe has spent the off-season continuing his rehab from the surgery. He is expected to be able to take part in full activity as a first baseman in spring training.

Hawpe has a career major league average of .276 with 124 homers and 490 RBI in 893 games with Colorado (2004-10), Tampa Bay (2010), and San Diego (2011), seeing the majority of his action in right field. He produced 20 or more homers in four consecutive seasons with the Rockies from 2006-09 and established career bests with 29 homers and 116 RBI for the National League champions in 2007. Hawpe was selected to his first All-Star team in 2009, when he set a career best with 42 doubles and produced his highest batting average in 2006 with a .293 mark. He was originally selected by Colorado in the 2000 First Year Player Draft.

Jon Daniels, off camera, on the Rangers chances of pursuing Prince Fielder:
“I’m intimately aware of our budget and it’s very unlikely.”

Darvish signs…six year contract…deal is done

The Rangers are just about ready to officially announce that they have signed pitcher Yu Darvish. A press conference is going to be held later this evening at the Ballpark. The deal is going to be completed under the wire. Still waiting on the official announcement.