Time for me to answer some questions and for you to offer your own opinions on Monday Morning Manager, now playing at Postcards from Elysian Fields. It's time to get the blog back up and running.

What are the odds the Rangers put in heavy efforts to get pitchers like Brad Penny, Ryan Dempster or Ben Sheets?
-- Spencer R., Forney, Texas

What do you think about signing veteran free-agent pitchers Andy Pettitte and Derek Lowe for a year or two each to help us now, and when their contracts expire, our young guys will be developed enough to step in?
-- Adam W., Allen, Texas

Names like Bartolo Colon, Mark Mulder and Brad Penny used to be a little more feared than they are now. Can you see the Rangers pursuing any of these injured free agents?
-- Paul B., Austin, Texas

A.J. Burnett just opted out of his contract with the Blue Jays. Would the Rangers, even with their vow not to throw huge contracts at free-agent pitchers, be willing to make an exception for him?
-- Nicholi S., Tulsa, Okla.

Pay attention, because many of you keep asking what pitchers the Rangers are interested in this winter. Here's how all this works, sort of a Baseball Off-Season Primer.

Right now, the Rangers are "expressing interest" in just about every free-agent pitcher out there. They are calling up agents and saying they "could have some interest" in their client at some point this winter. The agent most likely responds by saying their pitcher would "love" to pitch in Texas -- he needs as many teams as possible to drive up the price -- and then outlines why his client deserves vast sums of money over many years.

Once everybody has expressed interest in everybody, a game of musical chairs begins. Usually the top guys land a job first and the dominoes start falling. The price for a pitcher goes up or down depending on the market and how many teams are still in the hunt. Some pitchers end up being cheaper than expected. It all depends on how much a team bids and what an agent is asking for.

Penny, for example. The Rangers are interested. He won 16 games for the Dodgers in both 2006 and 2007 before falling to 6-9 with a 6.27 ERA this year because of a bad shoulder. His agent will insist he is healthy and want top dollar based on 2006-07. The Rangers will hold off and see if the demands soften. That's why some guys don't sign until January or later.

The Rangers have evaluated every pitcher out there. Every single one. They also have their own idea of what each pitcher is worth. Now they wait to see if the other side agrees and something can get done. It's a long drawn-out process.

I was reading that "Type A" free agents are those players who rank in the top 20 percent of their position group. It then went on to designate Milton Bradley as a Type B free agent, thereby the Rangers would not receive a first-round pick as compensation should he sign elsewhere. Why is this? Do his numbers not clearly rank in the top 20 percent of designated hitters?
-- Jake G., Rowlett, Texas

He is in the category of first basemen, outfielders and designated hitters. So he is also being compared to guys like Mark Teixeira and Justin Morneau, too. It's also a two-year comparison of numbers, not just this season, and playing time factors into the equation.

I know it may be confidential, but do you know about how much the Rangers' payroll budget is for 2009 and how much of it is already committed to players currently on the roster?
-- Scott M., Grand Prairie, Texas

The Rangers' payroll will likely be somewhere between $70 million and $75 million. They have approximately $56 million committed to Kevin Millwood, Vicente Padilla, Michael Young, Hank Blalock, Ian Kinsler, Frank Catalanotto and Joaquin Benoit. Marlon Byrd and Gerald Laird will likely get at least $3 million each through the arbitration process. That takes it to $62 million or so. It will probably take another $6 million-$7 million to fill out the roster if the Rangers go with all young players. So you can see it gets tight.

With the Rangers nowhere close to trading for Jake Peavy or signing CC Sabathia and other starting pitchers, why don't they just try to assemble the best offensive team of all time? Target Manny Ramirez and watch them score 1,000 runs by the end of the year.
-- Mike C., Abilene, Texas

Remember 2002? The Rangers had four potential Hall of Famers in their lineup: Alex Rodriguez, Rafael Palmeiro, Juan Gonzalez and Ivan Rodriguez. Do you also realize that in 2002, the Rangers had no less than 10 players who would at some point in their careers have at least one 100-RBI season? In fact, those 10 players have combined for 43 100-RBI seasons. The Rangers ended up scoring 843 runs and went 72-90.

What position is Chris Davis likely to play, first or third, in the 2009 season?
-- Emily C., Abilene, Texas

The Rangers seem intent on going with Davis at first base.

Why aren't the Rangers interested in bringing Bradley back? I understand with Blalock coming back at DH that leaves Bradley without a spot, but I think he'd do well splitting time at DH and right field.
-- John O., Fort Worth, Texas

The Rangers love what Bradley brings as far as talent, performance and clubhouse presence. He just has trouble staying in the lineup and that's cause for concern when talking about a multiyear contract.

Now that we got Mike Maddux as a pitching coach, is there any chance we can grab his brother Greg for a veteran leader for this starting pitching staff?
-- Ben S., Carrollton, Texas

Greg is likely to retire. If not, he's too smart to leave the National League.

What was the record for all four catchers when they caught?
-- David B., Williamsport, Pa.

They were 43-43 when Laird started, 26-26 when Jarrod Saltalamacchia started, 5-6 with Taylor Teagarden and 4-4 with Max Ramirez. Plus 1-4 with Adam Melhuse.

What are the chances of getting Garrett Atkins from the Rockies? Do you think he would be a good fit?
-- Steve D., Red River, N.M.

He would be a great fit for the Rangers. Derek Holland, Neftali Feliz and Elvis Andrus would be a great fit for the Rockies.

With the Rangers unlikely to re-sign Bradley, will they target a guy like Adam Dunn to fill the DH void?
-- Mike C., Abilene, Texas

Only if they are able to trade Blalock for pitching would that become a possibility. Blalock is the Rangers' DH right now. But I like Dunn as a DH despite some high strikeout numbers.

The last couple of years, the Rangers have had success resurrecting the careers of fallen pitchers by signing them for a year or two for very little money. Do you see them trying the same thing this year?
-- Ryan C., Gardner, Kan.

Chad Cordero is an interesting name. He was a premier reliever before needing shoulder surgery this year. The Rangers are doing their due diligence on him.

Should the Rangers sign Jeff Kent to play third for a year or two since he has a ranch in Texas?
-- Allen L., Aledo, Texas

He hasn't played third base since 1996.

Is Josh Hamilton not in the running for Comeback Player of the Year?
-- Cody K., Paris, Texas

He was in the running but lost out to Indians pitcher Cliff Lee. That announcement came right at the end of the season.

My girlfriend was recently complaining about the lack of female GMs in the game and would like to put herself forward should Jon Daniels decide to step aside. To prove herself, she claims she would set up a blockbuster trade involving sending Ramirez, Blalock and Michael Young to Pittsburgh for Paul Maholm, Adam LaRoche and Matt Capps. Then she went and ruined it all by saying she would also offer Catalanotto a new 10-year, $300 million extension because "he's kinda cute." Should Mr. Daniels be worried?
-- James G., Reading, England

No, but the owner just fainted.