If I ran the Rangers...

As I came down from my Yu Darvish-elation yesterday, I got to thinking: Could the Texas Rangers still be players in the free agent market?

The cream of the crop remaining is slugger Prince Fielder, who will be a big (see what I did there) acquisition for whichever team pulls the trigger for his services. One of the interested teams is reportedly the Rangers, who met with him and his agent Scott Boras on Friday.

Most baseball people thought that Prince would wait to make his decision until after the Rangers either did or did not lock up Darvish during the negotiation period. Now that that's done, what happens?

Conventional wisdom would say that the Rangers are now out on Fielder, because let's be honest, they just gave Darvish what amounts to $111 million (with posting fee).

But if we've learned anything about the Jon Daniels/Nolan Ryan-led Rangers, they're anything but conventional.

With that in mind, let's let our minds wander and bring Prince to Texas, shall we?

The first thing that has to be done to get Fielder to Texas is to acknowledge the fact that it won't come without some painful moments, none more than having to realize that Fielder and current Rangers outfielder Josh Hamilton can't co-exist on the same payroll.

Hamilton is a free agent after 2012, and he and the Rangers have put contract talks on hold while the Rangers focused on Darvish. For the Prince to Texas scenario to work, he can't be re-upped. The money's not there.

As a Ranger fan, no one appreciates what Hamilton has done for the franchise more than I do. He's been one of the leaders on these resurgent Rangers clubs. But, he's also shown an inability to not get hurt.

The elephant in that conversation is, of course, his past drug use. You never want to hold past mistakes over people, especially when they seem to have atoned for them, but this is something that can't be ignored.

How many years older than his real age (31) did the drug use make his body? It's a question that must be asked, especially for a guy that plays all out the way he does, and only played 121 games in 2011.

Fielder, on the other hand, is only 28, and while he isn't the picture of health (he's big, ya know?), he's younger and his position (1B) isn't as demanding as the outfield. Plus, later in the contract, he could move to the DH role.

I'm not saying the Rangers will do it, but I think they should consider it. Sign Prince now, then start fielding trade offers for Hamilton. If the right offer comes before the season, make it. If not, wait until the trade deadline. That's the luxury they have.

Without Hamilton, the Rangers still have a top-10 MLB outfield with Nelson Cruz in right, Leonys Martin in center and David Murphy in left. Is Murphy a downgrade from Hamilton? Of course, but he'd start in most big league outfields.

Imagine the Rangers trotting this lineup to the dish everyday:

1. Martin (CF)
2. Kinsler (2B)
3. Beltre (3B)
4. Fielder (1B/DH)*
5. Cruz (RF)
6. Napoli (C/1B/DH)*
7. Young (DH/1B)*
8. Murphy (LF)
9. Andrus (SS)
*position listed first would be primary, but player can play any listed.

I mean, wow. What opposing pitcher wouldn't that at least somewhat intimidate?

Like I said, something to consider.