Rangers pass on arbitration with Vlad Club still hopes to sign DH; Lee, Francisco receive offers ARLINGTON -- The Rangers have offered arbitration to free-agent pitcher Cliff Lee and reliever Frank Francisco but have declined to extend it to catcher Bengie Molina and designated hitter Vladimir Guerrero. The Rangers expect Francisco to accept the arbitration offer and return to their bullpen next season. Both he and Lee have until Tuesday to accept. If they turn it down, the Rangers would receive two Draft picks as compensation if they sign with another team. Francisco, 31, was 6-4 with a 3.76 ERA in 56 games for the Rangers after being moved from closer to setup reliever early in the season. He also missed all of September and the playoffs with a strained muscle in his right rib cage. Because Francisco is coming off an injury, it makes it unlikely that another team would be willing to give up a possible first- or second-round Draft pick to sign him. That's why the Rangers expect him to accept the arbitration offer. "We like Frankie and we'd like to have him back," Rangers general manager Jon Daniels said. "We'll take the Draft picks if he signs elsewhere, but we'd like to have him back, and expect he will be back." Francisco is still recovering from his injury and will not pitch in winter ball. But the Rangers expect he will be ready for Spring Training and be at full strength when the season starts. If he does accept arbitration, it will likely fill the Rangers' need for a right-handed setup reliever for the bullpen. Francisco would be back along with Mark Lowe, Alexi Ogando and Darren O'Day. That would give the Rangers four experienced right-handed setup relievers in front of closer Neftali Feliz. "That takes the pressure off trying to go out and find that guy," Daniels said. The Rangers are still looking for a starting pitcher, designated hitter and a catcher. The big prize remains Lee, who is entertaining offers from the Yankees, Rangers and other interested teams. There is no chance of Lee accepting arbitration from the Rangers. All indications are Lee's new deal will include an annual salary of more than $20 million. Much could depend on the length of the deal and how many years a club is willing to give him. There are reports that Lee, 32, is looking for as long as a seven-year contract. Daniels declined to give an update on the status of the negotiations. "We'd love to have him back," Daniels said. "He's in a great spot and he has options. I'm sure it will play out as long as it has to." Daniels did admit that it would be easier for the Rangers to address or move on to other offseason concerns if they knew what was going to happen with Lee. "It's all connected," Daniels said. By not offering arbitration to Guerrero or Molina, the Rangers will not receive Draft picks as compensation if they sign with another team. The Rangers still want to sign Guerrero and are having ongoing discussions with his representatives. But a big hurdle will be Guerrero's desire for a multi-year contract. The Rangers prefer a one-year contract like they did with him a year ago. "We'd like to have him back and we figured the best way to continue those discussions is without the external pressure of the arbitration process and how that might affect things," Daniels said. "Sometimes it's easier to negotiate without the arbitration process as a backdrop." Guerrero, who hit .295 with 15 home runs and 50 RBIs over 100 games in an injury-marred 2009 season, played in just 16 games in the outfield for the Rangers this past season while spending the rest of the time at designated hitter. Molina finished the 2010 season talking about retiring but Daniels said the Rangers have been informed that he wants to play at least one more year. Molina was the Rangers' No. 1 catcher over the final three months of the season, but both he and Matt Treanor are free agents. The Rangers had strong interest in Victor Martinez, but he has agreed to a four-year, $50 million contract with the Tigers, pending physical. The top remaining free-agent catchers include A.J. Pierzynski, Gerald Laird, Rod Barajas, Miguel Olivo and Yorvit Torrealba. Daniels said the Rangers have been looking at catchers both through the free-agent market and in trade talks. But he said it's more likely that the Rangers will fill the spot through free agents. "At this point in the offseason, free agency is more easily brought to pass," Daniels said. "Teams with catching are not inclined to trade it. It's a tough position to fill in thre industry. I'm confident in our ability to fill it." Laird, Barajas, Molina and Treanor have all played with the Rangers at some point in their careers. Asked if his Opening Day catcher next year could be a former Ranger, Daniels said, "Possibly. I'll let you know on Opening Day." 有提出仲裁:Cliff Lee，Frank Francisco~~ 没有提出仲裁:Vladimir Guerrero，Benjie Molina~~ 诚心希望Frankie加入别队，VG签回来，Molina低薪当二号捕手~~~ 资料来源:mlb官网 http://texas.rangers.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20101122&content_id=16177872 &vkey=news_tex&c_id=tex -- 2010 Texas Rangers Postseason Franchise Roster (SP)Cliff Lee (C)Benjie Molina (1B)Mitch Moreland (2B)Ian Kinsler (SS)Elvis Andrus (3B)Michael Young (LF)David Murphy (CF)Josh Hamilton (RF)Nelson Cruz (DH)Vladimir Guerrero (SP)C.J. Wilson (SP)Colby Lewis (CL)Neftali Feliz (RP)Darren O'Day (RP)Darren Oliver (SP)Derek Holland (RP)Alexi Ogando (RP)Michael Kirkman (C)Matt Treanor (OF)Julio Borbon --

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