With Major League Baseball's top-rated farm system, they're choosing to let the team grow on its own. That makes the first significant outside addition pretty important. (Of course, adding Ben Sheets to the rotation would top this.)

Omar Vizquel, the best defensive shortstop of his era, signed a minor league deal to help tutor young Elvis Andrus, the farm system's No. 1 prospect. That's a 41-year-old teaching a 20-year-old. Andrus, a native of Venezuela like Vizquel, was less than a year old when Vizquel started his career in 1989.

And if Andrus isn't ready, Vizquel can still play a little. He was in 92 games after starting 2008 on the disabled list because of knee surgery, but he felt good enough to steal home on June 13.

This came on top of news that five-time All-Star shortstop Michael Young had agreed to move over to third base to make room for Andrus.

Vizquel has 11 Gold Gloves, nine in the AL and two in the NL, and he's a three-time All-Star. Only Ozzie Smith has more Gold Gloves at shortstop with 13. Last year, Vizquel became the career leader for games played by a shortstop at 2,654.

Vizquel expressed a desire to show he can still play every day, but he knows helping Andrus might be his greatest contribution. "If I don't get to be the everyday player, and I get to do the role they expect me to do, that will be great," Vizquel said. "I think I can handle the situation very well."

The Freak of the Week may have done something good or bad.

What's old is new for Rangers

With the arrival of shortstop Omar Vizquel, 41, the Texas Rangers continue a tradition of grabbing great, but old players. Some made big contributions, but most didn't. Some have even been Rangers who left but returned to the hot, hazy field in Arlington for a second or third stint before calling it quits.

Starting pitchers

Gaylord Perry, 41, 1980: Five-time All-Star and two-time Cy Young winner had a fine 3.43 ERA but only a 6-9 record in 24 starts on his second stint with the Rangers.

Burt Hooton, 35, 1985: One-time All-Star capped his 15-year career going 5-8 with a 5.23 ERA.

Nolan Ryan, 42, 1989: Seven-time All-Star with five no-hitters earned another All-Star berth in 1989 and added two no-hitters among his 51 victories in five years with the Rangers.

Kenny Rogers, 39, 2004: One-time All-Star added two more All-Star berths in his third Texas stint, going 32-17. He also sullied his name by attacking a television cameraman.

Relievers

Sparky Lyle, 35, 1979: Three-time All-Star and former Cy Young winner was 8-10 with 21 saves in a year and a half with the Rangers, who traded away Dave Righetti to get him.

Rich "Goose" Gossage, 39, 1991: Nine-time All-Star was 4-2 with one save and a 3.57 ERA in 44 games. Pitched three more seasons elsewhere.

Catcher

Jim Sundberg, 37, 1988: Three-time All-Star won a World Series in Kansas City, but he closed out his career mentoring young Rangers catchers.

First base

Jim Fregosi, 31, 1973: Six-time All-Star at shortstop for the Angels had 28 HRs and 100 RBIs in three full seasons and parts of two others at first and third for Texas.

Andres Galarraga, 40, 2001: Five-time All-Star hit 10 of his 399 career HRs for Texas, batting .235 in 72 games before getting traded to the Giants.

Second base

Toby Harrah, 36, 1985: Four-time All-Star came back after six years in Cleveland to finish his career in Texas. Hit .248 with 16 HRs and 85 RBIs in 221 games. Helped lead 1986 team to 87-75 finish, second in the AL West, in his final season.

Shortstop

Bert Campaneris, 35, 1977: Five-time All-Star with the A's, played a little more than two years in Arlington. Was All-Star in '77 when Texas was 94-68 and second in the AL West.

Third base

Buddy Bell, 37, 1989: Five-time All-Star and fan favorite came back for one final paycheck, hitting .183 in 34 games before retiring.

Ken Caminiti, 38, 2001: Three-time All-Star and former MVP hit .232 with nine HRs in 54 games before getting released in final season. Died three years later.

Outfield

Bobby Bonds, 32, 1978: Three-time All-Star hit 29 HRs with 82 RBIs in 130 games. Played three more years elsewhere.

Rusty Staub, 36, 1980: Six-time All-Star hit nine of 292 career HRs in Texas, but he batted .300 in 109 games for a team that finished 76-85 (fourth in AL West). Played five more years with the Mets.

Ruben Sierra, 37, 2003: Four-time All-Star hit .263 in 43 games in his third Texas stint before getting traded to the Yankees, where he played in a World Series.

Kenny Lofton, 40, 2007: Six-time All-Star batted .303 with 7 HRs, 23 RBIs and 21 SBs in 84 games in his final season before getting traded to the Indians for catcher Max Ramirez.

Designated hitter

Sammy Sosa, 38, 2007: Seven-time All-Star and former MVP ended his career where it started by showing off some old skills with 21 HRs, 92 RBIs and a .252 batting average in 412 at-bats.

WEEKLY PLANNER : JAN. 25 - 31

TODAY 25

Spurs at Lakers: Secret weapon Big Shot Roger Mason and the Spurs try to duplicate a 112-111 win over the Lakers on Jan. 14. L.A. is 22-3 at home.

MONDAY 26

Eclipse Awards: Awards for horses and their handlers get handed out. Finalists for top 3-year-olds include the late Eight Belles (filly) and Big Brown (male).

TUESDAY 27

Spurs at Jazz: The Jazz are 25-19, but 17-7 vs. the West and 17-5 at home. Spurs won 119-94 on Nov. 21. It's also Super Bowl media day in Tampa, Fla.

WEDNESDAY 28

Texas Tech at Texas A&M: The Aggies catch a bit of a break after Baylor, Oklahoma, Kansas and Texas gantlet. Also, Texas State faces UTSA at the Convocation Center at 7 p.m.

THURSDAY 29

Spurs at Suns: It's the 9:30 p.m. tip on TNT. Roger Mason, who gave the Spurs a 91-90 win on Christmas, faces another one of his big-shot victims.

FRIDAY 30

FBR Open: It's cut day at the TPC of Scottsdale, where J.B. Holmes won last year. Also, the Pistons host the Celtics at 6 p.m. on ESPN.

SATURDAY 31

UFC 94: Welterweight champ Georges St. Pierre puts his belt on the line against B.J. Penn. Penn, the lightweight champ, lost to St. Pierre in 2006.