The Rangers have signed 25-year old lefty swinging outfielder Kyle Hudson to a minor league deal. Hudson got his first taste of the majors with the Orioles last year and he appeared in 14 games in which he was 4 for 28 (.143 avg, .286 OPS) with 3 runs scored, 2 RBIs and 2 stolen bases. He also played in 119 games in A+AA+AAA-ball last year and he was 125 of 423 (.296 avg, .711 OPS) with 60 runs scored, 0 homers, 23 RBIs and 41 stolen bases. Hudson will try to win a job on the Rangers’ bench this spring.

The Rangers have signed 31-year old lefty reliever Mitch Stetter to a minor league deal. Stetter pitched in 16 games (0 starts) for the Brewers last year and he was 0-0 with a 5.14 ERA and a 1.29 WHIP. He has now pitched in 132 games (0 starts) in his first five years in the majors and he is 8-2 with 1 save, a 4.08 ERA and a 1.40 WHIP. Stetter will get a shot to win a job in the bullpen this spring.

The Rangers have signed 32-year old righty reliever Sean Green to a minor league deal. Green pitched in 14 games (0 starts) for the Brewers last year and he was 0-1 with a 5.40 ERA and a 1.71 WHIP. He has now pitched in 264 games (0 starts) in his first six years in the majors and he is 10-12 with 2 saves, a 4.41 ERA and a 1.52 WHIP. Green will get a shot to win a job in the Rangers’ bullpen this spring.

The Rangers have signed 32-year old lefty swinging 1B/OF Brad Hawpe to a minor league deal. Hawpe played in 62 games for the Padres last year and he was 45 for 195 (.231 avg, .645 OPS) with 19 runs scored, 4 homers and 19 RBIs. He has now played in 893 games in his first 8 years in the majors and he is 801 of 2,907 (.276 avg, .848 OPS) with 398 runs scored, 124 homers, 490 RBIs and 13 stolen bases. If Hawpe has a strong spring, I could see him making the team as a bench player.

The Rangers have added some impressive pitching to the staff over the winter so far. Not much help in the batting order, yet, but they don’t really need any. Here is a look at the new guys the Rangers have brought in so far this winter:

In the field: The Rangers have dealt for 1B/OF Brandon Snyder and catcher Luis Martinez over the winter. But, I see both of those guys starting the 2012 season in AAA-ball. That being said, they could help them at some point this year.

On the mound: The Rangers signed Joe Nathan to be the new closer, allowing them to move Neftali Feliz to the starting rotation in 2012. They are also trying to finish up a contract for righty starting pitcher Yu Darvish from Japan. Darvish and Feliz will give the Rangers two more very impressive arms for the starting rotation. Righty reliever Greg Reynolds will have a shot to win a job as a long man in the bullpen this spring, but he’s a longshot.

Overall: The Rangers have made more subtle moves than the Angels have so far this winter, but they have improved the team nonetheless.