No waiting: Rudy Jaramillo is still under contract to Rangers, but they are clamoring for him in Chicago

Old friend and former Rangers beat writer Phil Rogers pens a missive this morning about the Cubs vacant hitting coach position in which he lobbies openly for the team to make a run at Rudy Jaramillo for the job. "Jaramillo is the absolute perfect man for the Cubs' situation. He has worked successfully in the past with both Alfonso Soriano and Milton Bradley, the latter of whom is no guarantee to be eliminated over the offseason (unless general manager Jim Hendry releases him at a cost of $21 million). And he is well acquainted with manager Lou Piniella from the years Piniella spent in Seattle and Tampa." The Rangers have offered Jaramillo a one-year contract to return, but have also indicated they need to see improvement from the offense. The moral of this story is this: If the Rangers are willing to let him walk away when his contract expires on Halloween, he's going to be employed quickly. Maybe even before all the candy is eaten.