"The Rangers' month-long negotiating period with Yu Darvish - and the hefty investment it will require to sign the Japanese right-hander - does come with a price tag.

It appears it has cost them the opportunity to bring Darren Oliver back to the bullpen.

According to two major league sources, Oliver is close to signing a deal with Toronto - the club that finished as runnerup to the Rangers in the Darvish sweepstakes. Oliver, 41, was the Rangers' top lefty reliever each of the last two seasons. Oliver, who lives in Southlake, had expressed interest in returning to the Rangers and there was mutual interest. He met with GM Jon Daniels in early December, but the Rangers did not make any commitments, pending their potential outlay for other free agents."