Here are the statements made about Fielder after the Darvish press conference:

"After going through this process, I'm intimately familiar with our budget," Daniels said. "It's very unlikely."

Said Rangers president Nolan Ryan, "We'll just have to see where things go the rest of the winter and see what our opportunities are. I'm not sure we can predict anything at this time."

"I don't expect we'll do anything really big the rest of the winter," Daniels said. "But we'll get the next few days under our belt, welcome Yu to Texas and then take a step back and look at things."

They obviously didn't shut the door on Fielder, which they could've done. I still think they are negotiating with Hamilton and if they don't reach a deal they like, will turn their attention to Fielder. It seems obvious that Fielder is willing to wait for the Rangers to make a decision about whether they're in on the bidding. So I guess whatever offers he's received aren't blowing him away. I think if Fielder is still on the market a week from now, that's strong evidence that Boras is involved in serious negotiations with the Rangers.

I forgot to post the source:

http://texas.rangers.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120118&content_id=26385196&vkey=news_tex&c_id=tex

If the Rangers can sign Fielder, they would have a ton of trade pieces available. Moreland, Olt, Sardinas and a pitching propsect could land a really big name proven starter a Linsacum, Kershaw or Hernandez.

You mean Holland, Moreland, Olt, Sardinas and a pitching propsect or Harry, Ogando, Moreland, Olt, Sardinas and a pitching propsect.

No it couldn't, Ric.

To play on the conspiracy theory stuff that's floating around, the rangers are not introducing Darvish until friday. That means they could be putting the finishing touches on fielders contract and want to keep it tight lipped to suprise people at fridays press conference.

Won't wait a week, Josh is gone. JD got YU on the cheap. Fielder is in his sights. I love the misdirection. @meat227 Holland nor Harrison are going anywhere. They are the future of the ballclub. "Young and controllable" maybe available for Kershaw or King. My prediction is they stay put and look like aces by 2013. Look for Lewis, Kins and Elvis to get extended, also Perez to BP in 2012.

I could see a josh trade on the horizon if they sign fielder.

Try this on for size... Atlanta knows they're not going to compete with the Philies for a while. trade them Hambone, Ogando, Olt (to replace Chippper) and Ramirez or lower pitching prospect for Hanson and Venters.

As much as i love the guy, move Harry to the pen now the rangers have two lefties

Rotation: Lewis, Hanson, Darvish, Holland, Feliz
Pen: Feldman, Harry, Koji, Yoshi, Lowe, Adams, Nathan (I know thats not all thats all I could think of)

That Rotation matched with a line up with fielder would be epic.

Or we could re stock the farm with a trade of josh to the pirates (hurdle would thank us) or the Nats for a decent lefty reliever and prospects might work out well too....

just a thought

Ranger's fan base demographics is mostly a Anglo. There is a push by the rangers & MLB to redevelop the black fan base. The Black baseball fans have not come to rangers games in mass because there hasn't been a star player in the last 10 years. Signing Price could add the final piece to the Rangers regional marketing plan. It wouldn't be over night but it could prove to be a big PR win for the rangers out reach program.

The Rangers have about $51 or so million tied up for sure in 2013, this isn't counting ARB eligible players. But this makes me think that if the Rangers give Fielder a backloaded deal, the possibility of resigning guys like Napoli. Kinsler, and Cruz is there. Idk so much if Cruz will be back, but for sure Nap and Ian. I don't think Hamilton is back, but with the front office and just having $51MM tied up in 2013 payroll, there is going to be some money to distribute.

It seems to me that it's somewhat unlikely they'll sign Prince. I'd put the odds at like 30% of signing him. Depends on how much the Rangers can offer, and how much of a discount Prince will give, if any, to play for a contender.

@dcaggie06 that is a complete OVERPAY for Hanson and Venters..considering Hanson has shoulder issues too.. While Atlanta could pay Hamilton after this yr with Chipper going off the books and Olt would be a great fit for them too adding Ogando and Ramirez is too much .. if I am talking trade with ATL Jason Heyward is the name im bringing up 1st since Texas doesnt have any OF depth in the minors and his swing is perfect for the ballpark..

I was actually starting to think we might be able to nab heyward myself, just gotta hope last year was a fluke. There's also a chance at going after Stanton or even Gaby Sanchez if we don't get Prince...either one and prospects would be a good deal.

there waiting until friday because darvish is still in japan right now. we wont hear any fielder news untill next week id say. but the fact he isnt signed and others teams arent really getting anywhere tells me he wants to play in texas, its just a matter of details. its better than 30%, fielder wants to be here. its just a money issue, if he wants to come here bad enough, he'll drop his price.

Nolan said that Fielder would have to come to them to work out a deal, which i see him doing. Take a small pay cut now, win a few rings, put up massive numbers and he is in line for a big payday!

Hamilton and Ogando to SF for Cain. Atlanta is not going to trade with JD again.

Cain would be awesome, and I agree Ron last time JD made ATL look foolish haha

Misdirection of one of the Rangers' FO's biggest strengths. This is why I believe that by the time spring training arrives, Prince Fielder will be in a Ranger uni.
Both JD and Nolan have repeated essentially the same mantra: "Our budget won't allow us to sign Fielder,'' or "It seems unlikely'' a deal will materialize.
JD is shrewd and Nolan is wily. Both know what must be said for public consumption, but then going over their realistic options once the camera lights have been shut off.
Fielder essentially has just a couple of choices: Try to secure an 8-10 year deal with a team not destined for the playoffs, or sign a shorter deal for around $20 million per with the Rangers.
From all indications, he really wants to play in Texas and Nolan and JD know this.
Fielder could sign a relatively shorter deal and still have several more free agent years left.
That's why I'm almost certain that one of these days we're going to see Prince's smiling face at a Ranger press conference.

Darvish salary for 2012 is, if the report is correct, an incredible 5.5 mil and with a major jump in 2014, coincidence, coinciding with TV deal, think not. Makes Prince possible as Heyman keeps reporting. If looking for another ACE, turn to TB and go after David Price, with the Rays cost factors out weighs everything else. Price is rapidly getting too expensive and the Rays have excess Starters but need a top reliever and first base man at minimal salary. A perfect deal, after signing Prince, is 0gando and Moreland for Price. Five Aces or budding aces on one staff, all 26 or younger: Yu and Neftali on the right with three lefties: Price, Derek and Harry. What to do with Colby, the only pending question. Also sign Hamilton and Napoli to long term, Naps can be negotiated at arbitration, but Josh should be extended asap. Any thoughts?

i've heard extending Colby was the next step once Yu was signed. So he appears to be in their long term plans. Playoff expertise is never overrated, and always worth the money.

i've heard extending Colby was the next step

So what's your price point for Colby? I like the guy as a player but don't see him as a huge upgrade over some of our young arms coming up. 3/$22.5? I'd be ok with that.

As for Prince: 3/$75. Would either side say yes?

Forget Fielder and sign Hamilton... this isn't even close in my book. He is a Ranger that has been a major player for the best two years in franchise history. Not even close here, come on... tell Scott to get lost, we want Josh. Is Fielder worth 20M+/yr at 1B/DH? Our entire payroll was 65M a couple of years ago. Focus and get perspective here, the metroplex is full of people sporting JH jerseys.

you don't think they would start sporting Prince Fielder jerseys? I love Josh just as much as anybody, but if this decision is about who the Rangers have for the long run, I will take Prince any day of the week. Younger and would bring more impact on the hitting side of the game, particularly in the ballpark. At the end of the day though, if the Rangers can't do a reasonable deal with Prince, I say try to lock JH up to a lucrative 4-5 year deal at the most. Just not 6 or 7.

Slider, your crazy hamilton wants way more money then he is worth with his track record of injuries.. Hammys looking for something around 7 years and over 120 mil, not worth it when he shows he cant play more then 130 games a year and with prince putting up crazy numbers in the bpia im all in for fielder and that opens up the door for a trade or two to even further better our team

Hamilton is wanting fair market value, which I would guess is a contract somewhere in the neighborhood of 5/$90 million or maybe even 7/$120+ as mentioned above. Way too much for an injury-prone 31-year-old outfielder, regardless of what he has done for the organization. Fielder is by far the best investment of the 2, but I can understand if payroll can't quite handle that. I think the FO is using the leverage it has right now with Fielder, downplaying the interest they may have in him at this time. Fielder has 3 primary suitors (Rangers, Nationals, Cubs), with 2 more on the fringe (Mariners and Blue Jays). The Cubs are rebuilding, and I don't really think making the big money commitment necessary for Fielder is in their plans. The Nationals are on the cusp of contending, but still are at least a couple of years away from being serious contenders in that division. Maybe Fielder wants to be the star in bringing that team to the top, but there's no guarantee that the young players they have will meet expectations. The Rangers are at the top and offer Fielder the best opportunity to win a WS ring. It's quite possible that production from Fielder could equal what Hamilton and Moreland would provide combined.