Chris Davis (pictured) has been named the Texas Rangers' 2008 Rookie of the Year. - Brent and MariLynn/Flickr.comThe Thanksgiving-induced moratorium on Major League front-office activities may have technically concluded when the clock struck midnight Friday morning, but all indications appear to be pointing towards a relatively quiet holiday weekend in terms of Texas Rangers news (which probably all but ensures that something significant will come down during the next 72-odd hours preceding my return to reliable ole' Tyler, Texas), with "relatively" being the operative word in this sentence:

● One transaction we could conceivably see completed might involve Wes Littleton, who was designated for assignment on November 20th -- opening a 10-day window for the Rangers to trade, release or outright the right-hander to the minors that will expire on Sunday -- and has evidently attracted some degree of trade interest from assorted unnamed clubs, suggesting he will not clear league-wide waivers and leaving Texas with no other realistic option beyond trading the 26-year-old sidewinder for what will likely be an underwhelming return.

Should Littleton's Rangers career draw to a close during this forthcoming 72-hour window, it will have been a relative success: in three seasons, Littleton has produced a 3.69 ERA (123 ERA+) and 1.23 WHIP in 102.3 innings, albeit with thoroughly mediocre strikeout rates at the big league level and progressively worsening run prevention.

Of the 30 players selected in the fourth round of the 2003 MLB First-Year Player Draft alongside Littleton (who was drafted ninth in that fourth round, or 106th overall), only four have reached the majors. One is a light-hitting 26-year-old fourth outfielder (Josh Anderson), one is really fast and doesn't know how to hit, but was ultimately employed as a significant trade chip by the Phillies last November in the acquisition of closer Brad Lidge (Michael Bourn), and the last you've no doubt heard of already (Jonathan Papelbon).

● Barring a dramatic collapse in negotiations between the Red Sox and Japanese right-hander Junicihi Tazawa (who may already be contractually committed to Boston, per multiple media reports), the Rangers' high bid will be for naught, and may have little bearing on the availability of Clay Buchholz, who reportedly isn't available "under any circumstances." I would hesitate to read too much into that before December's winter meetings have an opportunity to transpire, because we all know from personal experience just how crazy things can get when a myriad of front-office executives are packed into one central location, but then don't pin your hopes on any deal involving Buchholz getting done any time soon -- or, for that matter, ever.

● Kameron Loe was officially placed on irrevocable waivers for the purpose of granting him his unconditional release on Wednesday. He'll report to the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks of Japan's Pacific League at some point in the next two months.

● Minor league outfield and baserunning coordinator Wayne Kirby could join minor league pitching coordinator Rick Adair on Don Wakamatsu's coaching staff in Seattle, though word of their imminent defections may be somewhat premature. What realistically can't be understated, however, is the disturbing nature of this potential (and sudden) evacuation of minor league coaching talent; the departure of Kirby could have a particular impact on the likes of Julio Borbon and Engel Beltre, not to mention other speedsters such as infielders Elvis Andrus and Jose Vallejo, both of whom comprised a formidable trio of basestealing prowess along with Borbon at Double-A Frisco this past summer.

● Chris Davis has been deemed the Rangers' 2008 Rookie of the Year by the local chapter of the Baseball Writers' Association of America, and the ever-industrious Mark McLemore has been named the team's Alumni of the Year.

After you're done marveling over the raw power numbers Davis recorded in 2008 (including the eighth-highest slugging percentage, sixth-most home runs and best at-bat per home run ratio of any rookie in team history), consider this: of the 281 hitters who accrued at least 300 plate appearances at the Major League level in 2008, just 10 notched Isolated Power figures better than Davis's ridiculous mark of .264. Among those distinct few: Albert Pujols (.296), Ryan Ludwick and Ryan Howard (.292), Carlos Quentin (.283), Adam Dunn (.277), Alex Rodriguez (.271) and Manny Ramirez (.270), with the likes of Evan Longoria (.259) and Kevin Youkilis (.257) flanking Davis closely on the other side.

● Texas is reportedly feeling out the market for Marlon Byrd and Gerald Laird, who stand to collectively make something in the neighborhood of $6.5 million in 2008 as a result of their eligibility for salary arbitration. Freeing up that capital would obviously enable a bigger play by the Rangers in this winter's free-agent market, though to what extent is not immediately clear.

And even if the trades of both veterans facilitate the entry of the Rangers into said free-agent market, there likely won't be any Black Friday doorbusters awaiting general manager Jon Daniels and company.

Happy late Thanksgiving -- and Black Friday -- to one and all.