NASHVILLE -- Geovany Soto wanted to come back to the Texas Rangers, and the Rangers wanted him back even though they decided to not tender him a contract Friday night.
Only 48 hours later, though, the sides reached agreement for 2013.Soto will return to the Rangers on a one-year contact that was reached Sunday, according to a source.The deal will be finalized after Soto passes a physical exam that will be taken by Tuesday.Financial terms were not announced.The Rangers are still seeking one more catcher this week at the annual winter meetings, and Mike Napoli and A.J. Pierzynski are atop their big board of free-agent catchers.Club brass met Wednesday with Napoli, who has also met with Seattle and Boston.Soto was acquired July 30 from the Cubs and played 47 games, finishing with only a .196 average and six homers with the Rangers. But he gained favor with the pitching staff while Napoli was nursing a knee injury for much of the second half.Travel partnersJon Daniels and Josh Hamilton were in the same room, sort of, for roughly two hours around lunchtime Sunday.They weren't in a room, really, nor were they alone together hammering out a multiyear contract to keep the outfielder with the Texas Rangers.But the club's general manager and the five-time All-Star, along with wife Katie, were on the same American Airlines flight from DFW Airport to the winter meetings.Hamilton will likely be the top storyline this week at the Gaylord Opryland, as he tests free agency for the first time in his career. He reportedly opened the off-season seeking a seven-year deal worth $175 million.He isn't likely to get that length of contract, but a $25 million average annual salary might be within the Rangers' reach over a shorter term. They also have interest in the other big free agent, right-hander Zack Greinke, and have discussed with ownership scenarios in which they could add two significant contracts.BrieflyPrized prospect Jurickson Profar developed inflammation in his right/throwing forearm while playing for Licey in the Dominican Winter League and will not continue playing this off-season. The Rangers do not believe the injury is serious, but they will bring him to Arlington this week for an exam by Dr. Keith Meister.Agent Alan Nero said that the Rangers are among six teams that have shown interest in Japanese free-agent infielder Kensuke Tanaka. Tanaka, 31, played with Yu Darvish for the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters, and is a .294 career hitter in six seasons.Jeff Wilson, 817-390-7760Twitter: @JeffWilson_FWSTHave more to add? News tip? Tell us
