Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News has an update this morning on free agent designated hitter Vladimir Guerrero.
The nuts and bolts? The Rangers want Vlad to return, but they can’t commit a multi-million dollar contract to him until they know how they stand in the running for free agent left-hander Cliff Lee.
Guerrero batted .300/.345/.496 with 29 home runs and 115 RBI in 152 games this past season for Texas, helping the club to its first World Series appearance. In a market thin on power hitters he should draw some interest, but the 35-year-old has lost the ability to play the outfield and probably won’t want to sign with a non-contender in the twilight years of his baseball career.
The Rangers really are an ideal fit. Guerrero has stellar career numbers inside the Ballpark at Arlington and he was asked to play the field only a handful of times in 2010. He can stay healthy, and the Rangers can benefit off a bat that still packs a punch. Now if only that Lee guy would hurry up and sign.
