UNDATED (AP) - The Texas Rangers managed to fill their stated
needs during the offseason.
General manager Jon Daniels added to the starting rotation,
found a new veteran reliever and brought in players for first base,
center field and left field.
Still, questions persist for second-year manager Ron Washington
and a team that hasn't finished above third place in the AL West
since winning its last division title in 1999.
Rangers pitchers and catchers on Thursday report to spring
training in Surprise, Arizona, with their first workout the
following day.
The first full-squad workout is next week.
Starting pitcher Kevin Millwood says he thinks the Rangers will
be a stronger club.
Millwood had a career-worst 5.16 ERA last season, and spent two
stints on the disabled list with a hamstring injury.
He's now 33 and going into the third year of his five-year deal.
Millwood increased his workouts in the offseason. He even added
kickboxing to his routine.

Texas Rangers spring training at a glance
Manager: Ron Washington (second season).
2007: 75-87, fourth place.
Training Town: Surprise, Ariz.
Park: Surprise Stadium.
First Workout: Feb. 15/Feb. 21.
He's Here: OF Milton Bradley, 1B Ben Broussard, RHP Kazuo
Fukumori, CF Josh Hamilton, RHP Jason Jennings, LHP Eddie Guardado,
INF Edgardo Alfonzo.
He's Outta Here: DH Sammy Sosa, OF Brad Wilkerson, RHP Akinori
Otsuka, RHP Edinson Volquez, INF Jerry Hairston.
Outlook: A healthy Hank Blalock could be one of the most
significant additions for Texas. Blalock didn't play third base
after May last season, but the two-time All-Star says he is "back
to normal" following surgery to have a rib removed from near his
right shoulder and extra rehabilitation in the offseason. The three
spots Washington considered offseason needs were filled: center
field (Hamilton), right field (Bradley) and first base (Broussard).
But questions persist. Bradley is coming off knee surgery.
Broussard was primarily a platoon player the past two years.
Hamilton, the first overall draft pick in 1999 who nearly derailed
his career through alcohol and drug abuse, has a lot to prove even
after a breakout rookie season in Cincinnati. Dallas native
Jennings was added to the rotation after being hampered last season
by elbow problems, as were Guardado and Fukumori. Guardado provides
a much-needed veteran presence in a bullpen missing RHP Eric Gagne
and Otsuka. Guardado will likely be a setup man and mentor to
closer candidates C.J. Wilson and Joaquin Benoit. The Rangers were
29-28 after the trade deadline and the departures of 1B Mark
Teixeira, CF Kenny Lofton, LHP Ron Mahay and Gagne. They will have
to keep improving to escape the AL West basement.