The Rangers announced a series of roster moves Tuesday afternoon, most notably adding recently signed Derek Dietrich to the Major League roster and designating first baseman Greg Bird for assignment (after first reinstating him from the injured list). Texas also selected the contract of lefty Wes Benjamin from its alternate training site and optioned right-hander Jimmy Herget and infielder Anderson Tejeda.
Designating Bird for assignment opened one of two requisite roster spots for Dietrich and Benjamin. The other looks to have come from placing right-hander Luke Farrell on the Covid-19 injured list. Texas merely announced that Farrell has been placed on the IL, but Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News further reports that it is a Covid-19 IL placement due to Farrell coming into “close contact” with an individual who has tested positive. Farrell has tested negative to this point, per Grant.
Dietrich only just inked a minor league contract with the Rangers yesterday, but he’ll step in as an apparent first base and second base option in the wake of Bird’s departure. The longtime Marlins utilityman slugged a career-best 19 home runs last year, though the overwhelming majority of his production came in the season’s first nine to ten weeks. Dietrich experienced a precipitous dip in production after that point but will look to rebound in his latest setting after being unable to grab a big league spot on prior minors pacts with the Reds and Cubs.
The 27-year-old Benjamin is stepping onto a big league roster for the first time. He was clobbered in Triple-A in 2019 (5.52 ERA in 135 1/3 frames), but that’s true of most of the league’s pitchers after unprecedented levels of home runs that mirrored the Major League long ball surge. Prior to 2019, Benjamin had run up a sub-4.00 ERA in each of his professional seasons, topping out with a solid showing at Double-A in 2018 (3.62 ERA, 72-to-23 K/BB ratio in 79 2/3 innings).
As for Bird, the former Yankees first base hopeful will again be on the lookout for a new team. He’s shown in the past that he has all of the skill to be a strong offensive contributor in the Majors, but shoulder and ankle injuries have completely derailed his career to this point. It’s perhaps telling that he landed on the IL with the Rangers before taking his first plate appearance with the club.
The Bird must Swallow his sorrows. But I believe he will fly high.
I’ve never been a Bird fan. Hes a better player than I ever was but AAAA at best.
Does he go to the Blue Jay’s? Maybe the Cardinals?
Can’t see him going to the Jays. They already have Vlad and Tellez at 1st
More like the Orioles at the rate he’s swinging
Johnson > Bird anyways …
Id like the Os to claim him. I want to see what he can do at Camden yards with that short porch in right.
The Orioles have nothing to lose.
Bye bye Birdie. Its time for you to fly South maybe Miami will take a chance on you.
No need. Aguilar is raking and Cooper should be back soon. Also Lewin Diaz is close to ready.
Does it matter where he signs if he can’t stay on the field? Too bad because that was a beautiful swing for Yankee Stadium.
Interesting comments considering the Orioles and Marlins are, so far, playoff bound.
Orioles put in a claim and shift Davis to DH or drop
Even though I threw a bullpen today, and felt UCL pain, this news brought my day back a little bit. We have needed to DFA Greg Bird ever since we signed Greg Bird. And hopefully Dietrich takes advantage of his opportunity here, and becomes one of our new 2nd basemen. I think this is Jon Daniels saying that Rougned Odor is finally nearing the end of his tight leash.
You’re Adrian Beltre, and you’re pitching?!? Wow, 2020 really is a strange year!
Bird is kicked out of his Fort Worth Texas Rangers Nest !!
If Bird is healthy the Jays should take a flyer on him.
Tellez to alternate, Espinal up, DFA Panik at the disco
If Bird were able to stay healthy, he might still be in pinstripes.
If
Actually, although his contract and hitting are beyond horrible, Davis is a really, really good defensive 1B. I didn’t believe that initially, but I’ve watched him play a lot and he can pick it
I could see Detroit taking a flyer on him with Cron being out
I was thinking the same thing but they would have to drop someone from the 40 man and they seem reluctant to do that. Probably wish Mercer was still around
Is Bird still hurt? No sense in signing him if he can’t play right now.
I think Bird would be great on the Red Sox. They’re not competing and can afford to try Bird our at first and give him regular playing time. I think he could become a stud there
Any team that is kind of lost right now looking at catching lightning in a bottle should be in on Bird. He has a ton of talent and if he can stay healthy, he would more than pay dividends for his team. It is a super low risk chance at finding a cheap player.
I hope the Giants go after him. They have plenty of fringe guys on their 60 man and I’m sure they could find room for his upside on the 40 man. If he gets hurt, put him on IL…he’s 27 and has talent. That’s better than a lot they got right now. If he could play a role in 2021 then it’s a win.
With Evan White striking out at a 43+% pace and having just 3 hits over his last 50 PA’s (I think), maybe Seattle would be wise to send him to Tacoma to work on things without game pressure? Bird can’t be any worse as long he’s able to stay off the IL.