Tag Archives: Jon Daniels

Bartolo Colon Agrees to Minor League Contract with the Texas Rangers

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Bartolo Colon is back in the game…

The Texas Rangers have signed the 44-year-old Dominican professional baseball pitcher to a minor league contract and invited the pitcher to big league spring training.

Bartolo Colon

“Bartolo brings a track record of durability and success in the major leagues,” Rangers general manager Jon Daniels said in a statement. “He pounds the strike zone and provides quality competition for our rotation.”

Colon was a combined 7-14 with a 6.48 ERA in 28 starts for the Atlanta Braves and the Minnesota Twins last season. He was released by the Braves in July, then signed with the Twins and went 5-6 with a 5.18 ERA in 15 starts for the team.

Colon has 240 career victories in 20 seasons with 10 teams, including the Montreal Expos. The portly right-hander has posted 21 career wins against Texas, the most by any pitcher.

A four-time All-Star, he won the 2005 American League Cy Young Award with the Los Angeles Angels.

Texas was 78-84 last year. Rangers pitchers and catchers are set to hold their first spring workout on February 15 in Surprise, Arizona.

The Chicago White Sox Trade Rios to the Texas Rangers

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Alex Rios is heading to the Lone Star State…

The Texas Rangers have acquired the 32-year-old Puerto Rican Major League Baseball shortstop from the Chicago White Sox.

Alex Rios

The White Sox will send $1 million to Texas toward Rios’ salary, according to ESPN sources, while receiving either a player to be named later or cash considerations.

“I’m going to go to a team that is fighting for a playoff spot,” said Rios about his trade. “I believe it’s going to be refreshing. I believe they are hoping to win their division and go to the playoffs so let’s see what happens.”

The player to be named later is expected to be Dominican shortstop Leury Garcia, according to sources.

The Rangers put in a waiver claim for Rios on Thursday. According to Rangers manager Ron Washington, when he’s inserted into the lineup, he’ll bat sixth and play right field.

“He’s a good fit for us,” Rangers general manager Jon Daniels said. “We had interest in him prior to learning of Nelson’s suspension and continue to have interest him and we were able to work out a deal.”

Rios’ contract allowed him to block trades to six teams, but Texas was not on the list. He is owed $13 million next season and the remaining portion of his $12 million salary this season. He has a $2 million buyout for 2015. A trade clause in his contract boosted his 2014 and 2015 salary, as well as the 2015 buyout.

“It was a great ride,” Rios said of his time in Chicago. “I enjoyed my whole time here. I had many great moments here. So, I’m going to miss this place.”

Rios is sixth in the American League with 26 steals and he’s tied for fifth in the league with eight outfield assists.

“He’s a complete player,” Washington said. “He’s solid outfielder. He’s a tremendous baserunner. He just gives us completeness. That’s what we needed.”

Chicago Cubs Trade Garza to the Texas Rangers

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It’s official… Matt Garza will be winding-up in the Lone Star State…

The Texas Rangers have acquired the 29-year-old Mexican American pitcher from the Chicago Cubs, the team announced Monday night.

Matt Garza

In exchange for Garza, the Cubs acquired Triple-A infielder Mike Olt, Class A right-hander C.J. Edwards and right-hander Justin Grimm from the Rangers. The Cubs will also get one or two players to be named later, depending on who they take, as part of the deal.

Garza is expected to work out with the Rangers on Tuesday; while Texas general manager Jon Daniels said Garza is likely to start Wednesday night against the New York Yankees.

“He’s an extremely talented pitcher,” said Daniels. “He’s had success in the toughest divisions and the biggest stages. He was throwing the ball as well as anybody right now. He has a power repertoire, who is something that’s a little different from what we’ve got. And he was available.

“He was in our opinion the best guy on the market, and we wanted to go out and make a push to get him.”

Garza was scheduled to start for the Cubs Monday night against the Arizona Diamondbacks but was scratched.

Garza is 6-1 with a 3.17 ERA overall this season, including 5-0 with a 1.24 ERA in his past six starts. He is entering the final year of his contract.

“He was the best pitcher in baseball in his last five, six, seven starts. He’s young, has great velocity, has good command of his pitches and that makes him attractive to any team,” said Cubs manager Dale Sveum. “It’s not easy to part with a guy like Garza and someone has to step in and be productive. We hope the players we get will make us a better team, and in the future, we can be the team who pursues a player like Garza.”

With six pitchers currently on the disabled list, including four starters, Texas has been in the market for a starting pitcher for weeks. The Rangers are in a heated division race with Oakland, trailing the A’s by three games in the AL West entering Monday night.