Dominant rookie of the year closer Neftalí Feliz, defensive All-Star Elvis Andrus, and platoon outfielder David Murphy were all acquired at the trade deadline, while starting pitcher Tommy Hunter, centerfielder Julio Borbon and first baseman Mitch Moreland were each selected in the June 2007 draft.

And trades which resulted in Cliff Lee, Bengie Molina, and Jorge Cantú were each completed with a member of the Rangers 2007 draft class being sent in return.

[2] The pitching staff, looking to be a strength for one of the first times in recent history, would depend on the #3 and 4 starters, C. J. Wilson and Colby Lewis, due to a lack of expected production from Scott Feldman and free agent Rich Harden.

Wilson, Lewis, and trade deadline ace Cliff Lee would each finish in the top 20 among American League pitchers in ERA, innings pitched, strikeouts, and WHIP.

Following a play involving strength a Rangers' player would look to the bench and raise his right arm with fingers outstretched to make a claw.

The other type B free agent on the Rangers, Marlon Byrd, signed a 3-year deal with the Chicago Cubs, re-joining his hitting instructor Jaramillo.

At the winter meetings Jon Daniels made headline moves when Texas traded Kevin Millwood and $3 million to the Baltimore Orioles for pitcher Chris Ray and a PTBNL.

One trade that was not finalized would have sent Mike Lowell and approximately $9 million in cash to the Rangers and the Red Sox would have received AAA catcher Max Ramírez.

Ranger pitchers Omar Beltré and Alexi Ogando had been banned from receiving US visas after being involved in a marriage-visa scam 5 years ago.

By September 2009, speculation had begun to build about MLB forcing the Rangers to shut down front rotation man Kevin Millwood before he surpassed his inning threshold that would vest his 2010 option for $12 million.

[19] Hicks did admit that the Rangers had received some advances from MLB,[18] but that the money borrowed would be repaid out of future earnings due the team at the end of the year.

In October 2009, MLB executive vice president Rob Manfred sent a letter to then potential buyers Chuck Greenberg and Nolan Ryan informing them the Rangers had been in violation of the collective-bargaining agreement and owed around $40 million.

Between the 2006 and 2007 seasons, the debt level for the Texas Rangers increased by approximately $100 million, the same time period when Hicks purchased Liverpool Football Club.

Former agent Dennis Gilbert, Houston businessman Jim Crane, and a partnership of Chuck Greenberg and Nolan Ryan placed bids believed to be around $500 million for the purchase of the team.

Hicks offered exclusive negotiation rights to the Greenburg-Ryan group on December 15 with a purchase expected to be complete prior to or following the start of the 2010 season.

During the bidding process, it was discovered that Ryan, as president of the club, was not under contract, but working only on a handshake deal with Hicks, and that he would step down from the front office if another bidder were to win.

It was believed by the parties involved, including MLB and Selig, that this action would be the quickest and easiest way to resolve the sale without the approval of HSG creditors, mainly Monarch Capital.

The 2010 season once again found this question needing to be answered, but unlike previous years, it was due to having too many potential candidates instead of scrambling to find a 5th starter or more.

On March 17, 2010 Sports Illustrated's Jon Heyman reported Rangers manager Ron Washington failed an MLB drug test in 2009.

[66] On April 22 the Rangers sent first baseman Chris Davis to AAA for the second time in two years and called up rookie Justin Smoak to join the team at home against the Detroit Tigers.

Right fielder Nelson Cruz, who had led most of the Rangers offensive production in the first month, injured his hamstring and was placed on the DL on April 27.

The Rangers also completed a trade with the San Francisco Giants sending Chris Ray and a PTBNL and receiving Bengie Molina and cash considerations.

The Rangers completed one of their biggest trades in franchise history on July 9 when they sent 2009 first-round draft pick Justin Smoak, minor leaguers Blake Beavan, Josh Lueke, and Matt Lawson to the Seattle Mariners for CY Young-award winner Cliff Lee, and Mark Lowe plus cash.

On August 1 former starting catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia was traded to the Red Sox for Roman Mendez, Chris McGuiness, a player to be named.

Ranked as the 15th best prospect by Jamey Newberg prior to the start of the season,[81] Kirkman would pitch 72⁄3 innings in the month, striking out eight and giving up no runs in August 5 games.

Matt Harrison got the last out of the inning, and Darren O'Day pitched a perfect eighth before Neftalí Feliz gave up the first hit of the game with one out in the ninth to Joe Mauer.

Record (month, year) 16–14, 90–72 Rotation:Tommy Hunter, Derek Holland, Colby Lewis, C. J. Wilson, Scott Feldman, Cliff Lee, Rich Harden The Rangers' lead peaked at 11 games after clinching the division, setting a new franchise high.

A bullpen meltdown in game 2 culminated by 4 walks in a row allowed the Giants to take a commanding lead scoring 7 runs in the 8th innings.

It was also speculated the Rangers would select players expected to be signed close to slot due to financial difficulties with the bankruptcy process and being required to follow the budget the team had set out prior to the season and approved by MLB.

Jake Skole did not make the top 200 prospects in Baseball America's draft preview and an ankle injury at the start of his senior year of high school kept him out of action until the playoffs.