The Sunday Read: Offseason spending money bolstering Texas Rangers' optimism about future

All free agents are on the table, including those previously unavailable to the Rangers at the top of the market.

With an increased budget from owner Ray Davis, right, Jon Daniels said the pro scouting meetings last week were more spirited (The Associated Press/Tony Gutierrez).

SURPRISE, Ariz. — The pro scouting meetings the Texas Rangers held last week started early in the day and didn’t end until dinnertime, and really not even then.

They were mentally draining, president of baseball operations Jon Daniels said, with a long list of offseason tasks beyond putting together the 2022 roster. There’s a farm director to hire, a hitting coach and a bench coach, and various support staff.

But beneath the long hours there was an air of optimism that first arrived when the group started to break down which free agents the Rangers want to pursue this offseason.

They weren’t priced out from the top of the list.

“The last couple years we didn't start on the first page,” Daniels said. “It's been good. It [scouts] them a lot of freedom to make recommendations and to dig into players. It's definitely more enjoyable.”

Maybe money can buy happiness.