Guerrero Not Offered Arbitration

Today, the Rangers made one thing abundantly clear to DH Vladamir Guerrero: We want you back, but we don't wanna pay ya much.

In a move that I consider a little surprising, Texas declined to offer arbitration to the slugging DH, a move which could signal the end of Vlad's run in Texas. The move is curious but it gives a clear indication that Texas appears to be more concerned with getting stuck with paying Vlad $10 million (which many speculated he'd receive in arbitration) for one year than they are about the possibility he'll walk to another team.

Said General Manager Jon Daniels, "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. Sometimes it's easier to negotiate without the arbitration process as a backdrop."

Had Guerrero been offered arbitration, Texas would have received a late first round (or, at worst early 2nd round) pick, as well as a 'sandwich pick' (a compensatory pick between the 1st and 2nd round). As it now stands, should Vlad move on to another team the Rangers would receive no compensation for his departure.