Another Ranger retread?

Word out of Arlington is the Rangers are close to signing Eddie Guardado.

Wow, stop the presses -- um, if this was 2004. That was when Guardado was a hot commodity. He was "Everyday Eddie," the portly left-handed closer who saved games with guts and guile.

Now? He's a nearly washed-up, surgery-overcoming veteran who, on his best days, survives on moxie and a mid-80s fastball.

This is a return to a troubling trend Rangers fans are accustomed to -- management signing once-popular players who are well past their primes.