ARLINGTON -- You can add John Buck, now a free agent, to the list of catchers the Rangers are considering this offseason.
Buck became a free agent on Saturday night, when the Royals elected not to tender him a contract for 2010. The Rangers were monitoring both Buck and Dioner Navarro, the former All-Star catcher for the Rays, who will remain in Tampa Bay after agreeing to a one-year contract in the final hours before the on-tender deadline.
Buck was the Royals' No. 1 catcher for 4 1/2 years before losing his job to Miguel Olivo last season. Both Buck and Olivo are now free agents, as the Royals have signed Jason Kendall to a two-year contract to be their regular catcher.
"Usually, when the non-tender list comes out, there are some catchers, some bullpen options and guys who might be utility infielders," Rangers general manager Jon Daniels said. "We'll go over the list and see who we might be interested in."
Another player who was non-tendered was Giants first baseman Ryan Garko. The Rangers had interest in him before the July 31 Trade Deadline, but he was traded to San Francisco by the Indians.
The Rangers are looking for a right-handed-hitting designated hitter/infielder, and there remains a strong possibility that they could acquire Mike Lowell from the Red Sox for catcher Max Ramirez.
That deal is still on hold while medical records are reviewed. Another possible holdup is that the Red Sox are trying to sign free agent third baseman Adrian Beltre to replace Lowell and are having to deal with agent Scott Boras.
Garko is a right-handed hitter with some power who might complement left-handed-hitting Chris Davis at first base and David Murphy at designated hitter. The Rangers had those thoughts last summer before Garko ended up in San Francisco. For the season, Garko hit .268 with 13 home runs and 51 RBIs in 118 games and 400 at-bats, combined, with Cleveland and San Francisco.
But catching still looms as a need the Rangers want to address. The Rangers' prime requirement for a catcher is that he be able to handle a pitching staff and receive well.
Buck has a reputation for doing just that, although he never hit quite as well as the Royals expected when he was acquired from the Astros in a blockbuster 2004 trade involving Carlos Beltran. Buck has also has thrown out just 14.3 percent of attempted base-stealers over the past three seasons, second lowest among 42 Major League catchers with at least 160 games.
Buck has hit .238 since the beginning of the 2004 season, fifth lowest among 36 Major League catchers with at least 1,200 at-bats over that span. However, his 69 home runs over the past six seasons rank 11th among catchers and his 254 RBIs rank 16th.
The Rangers' search for catching help is inspired by their continued concern over catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia's situation. Saltalamacchia, who had Thoracic Outlet Syndrome, underwent surgery on Sept. 21 and had a rib bone removed from his right shoulder area that was causing pain, numbness and tingling in his right arm.
But the tingling and numbness returned when Saltalamacchia started playing Winter Ball in the Dominican Republic at the beginning of December, and the Rangers are unsure if Saltamacchia will be ready for Spring Training. Daniels admitted the Rangers are concerned about being caught short at the position, if Saltalamacchia is not ready.
The Rangers investigated the catching free-agent market during last week's Winter Meetings, but found that most of the top catchers were asking for and receiving two-year deals. The Rangers aren't interested in going there.
There are three catchers left on the market who are either Type A or B free agents. Bengie Molina is Type A and Yorvit Torrealba and Rod Barajas are Type B, and all are looking for at least two-year deals.
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