A few interesting storylines have developed in the week leading up to Wednesday’s Yu Darvish signing deadline. I share the optimism Nolan Ryan expressed last week that a deal will get done. The exclusive negotiation window is similar to that of a draft pick, and top picks rarely sign until the last possible day. Expect a press conference soon.

Fielder

There has been some conflicting confidence between media and players in regards to both the Prince Fielder and starting rotation questions. A fan asked Joe Nathan about Fielder this weekend at Rangers Fan Fest, and the pitcher shot back, “I truly believe this is where [Fielder] wants to be…I think with the Yu Darvish thing, they have been waiting around, hanging in there to see what happens. I just really think [Fielder] is going to be here.”

This is an intriguing and curious quote to outsiders like myself. Why is Nathan so confident in Fielder’s true desires? I’m not suggesting that Nathan knows Fielder, or anything that is going on in Prince’s massive noggin, but when anyone other than a politician starts a sentence with “I truly believe”, people “truly” listen. What do you know, Joe?

Matt Meyer implies that anyone who believes that Texas will sign both is a “dummy”. In an Insiders-only column on ESPN.com on Friday, Meyer claims that the Rangers might be better off passing on Darvish. His implication is that the Rangers cannot sign both Darvish and Prince Fielder – one that doesn’t appear to be accurate. He writes,

“Fielder’s agent, Scott Boras, is no dummy. He knows that the Rangers probably can’t sign both Darvish and Fielder, but if they don’t sign Darvish, they likely will be back in on Fielder.”

The recent meeting between Fielder and the Rangers could be the result of relative cost-certainty regarding Darvish. The Rangers should have a good idea of how much they will have to pay Darvish and how his contract will likely be structured – knowledge that is critical to have heading into a potentially enormous contract offer.

Rotation

Meyer also wrote that “The Rangers already have earmarked Alexi Ogando for the bullpen.” I haven’t read anything from anyone close to the Rangers indicating that this is true, so I’ll assume that Meyer is just guessing here. I don’t doubt that Ogando will end up in the bullpen, but I highly doubt that Meyer knows something that nobody else does.

According to reports, the Rangers have checked in on Roy Oswalt. Jon Daniels notoriously checks in on just about everyone, and I believe that Oswalt, not Fielder, is the fallback option should Darvish not sign.

Nevertheless, Evan Grant suggests that the Rangers could sign both Darvish and Oswalt, and send Ogando and Matt Harrison to the bullpen.

There are very legitimate reasons why moving the two starters to the bullpen would make sense. Harrison could easily fill the lefty void in the bullpen, and Ogando would give them a reliable late inning alternative should Nathan falter. I just don’t think moving two quality starters to the ‘pen would be an optimal strategy, and it would seem a little onerous to put the pitchers through the bullpen-rotation conversion once again. A trade would seem to make more sense, but potential additions of Fielder and Darvish would leave Texas with virtually no holes left to fill.

I think the most likely scenario involves the Rangers signing Darvish, passing on Oswalt, and starting Spring Training with each of their six starting pitchers in line for rotation slots. Should no injuries be sustained by opening day, Ogando would then be “earmarked” for the bullpen.