Rangers hire Ryan as club president  —  Team will introduce Hall of Fame pitcher on Wednesday  —  ARLINGTON — The Rangers are hiring Nolan Ryan as their new club president, team officials confirmed on Wednesday.  —  Ryan is expected to be introduced at a 3 p.m. CT press conference at The Ballpark in Arlington.

Sox re-sign Kielty to one-year deal  —  BOBBY KIELTY Memorable homer in Series  —  While new backup first baseman Sean Casey was being introduced at Fenway Park yesterday, the Red Sox were busy making a signing that could be a harbinger of another move.  For their outfield …

Munson's legacy remembered  —  Dinner honoring late catcher invokes many fond memories  —  NEW YORK — Until Tuesday, Thurman Munson's oldest granddaughter didn't quite understand all the commotion.  She knew of her grandfather's legacy, and of the annual awards dinner held each year in his name.

GLOVE CONNECTION  —  CASTILLO TRADE HELPED LAND JOHAN  —  Luis Castillo still remembers every detail of the day he was traded to the Mets, still has last June 30 etched in his memory.  So should the Amazin's and their fans, because that's the day the seeds were sown for their acquisition of Johan Santana …

Notes: Padres get Gonzalez from Nats  —  Team works out former Royals first baseman Sweeney  —  SAN DIEGO — Maybe the old baseball adage is true after all.  You can never have enough pitching.  —  On Tuesday, the Padres claimed right-handed pitcher Enrique Gonzalez off waivers …

Saturday is Truck Day  —  It's not exactly Groundhog Day, but it's as much a sign that spring is around the corner in New England as any shadow-seeking critter.  That's right, Sox fans, Truck Day is almost here.  —  The 18-wheeler that carries the Red Sox' spring training equipment from Boston …

Around the Horn: Bullpen  —  Much of unit's fortune hinges on effectiveness of Sanchez … NEW YORK — No, Johan Santana is not in the Mets' bullpen, though he might as well be.  He'll have nearly as profound an effect on that group as he will on the rotation.

Johan Santana's introduction will be huge relief for Mets  —  Now that the ticker-tape parade has been completed and the keys to the city have been distributed to the Giants, it's all but baseball season.  And what better way to begin that period than to introduce a $137.5 million pitcher?

Benson spurs Phillies' interest  —  The Phillies are apparently a lot more serious about free-agent pitcher Kris Benson than they've let on.  —  Benson has thrown privately for Phillies scout Chuck LaMar twice in the last week, a baseball source said after Benson's most recent audition yesterday in Atlanta.

Lopez seeks a second act  —  Catcher clings to notion he can start again in the majors  —  When the Braves signed Javy Lopez to a minor-league contract this winter and invited him to spring training, their former star catcher had been out of baseball all year.

Brewers ink Bush to one-year contract  —  Milwaukee, right-hander avoid arbitration by making deal  —  MILWAUKEE — Another one down, and one to go.  —  The Brewers and right-hander Dave Bush inked a one-year contract reportedly worth $2.55 million on Tuesday to avoid an arbitration hearing …

SI.com's numbers on Gallardo were wrong  —  Brewers assistant general manager Gord Ash astutely pointed out to me that the numbers presented were wrong when SI.com's Tom Verducci listed right-hander Yovanni Gallardo as one of the young pitchers at risk in 2008.