Headlines

  • Braves Select AJ Smith-Shawver, Designate Lucas Luetge
  • Orioles Sign Aaron Hicks, Place Cedric Mullins On IL
  • Brewers Designate Luke Voit For Assignment
  • White Sox To Activate Liam Hendriks From Injured List
  • Royals Release Hunter Dozier
  • Yankees Release Aaron Hicks
  • Previous
  • Next
Register
Login
  • Hoops Rumors
  • Pro Football Rumors
  • Pro Hockey Rumors

MLB Trade Rumors

  • Home
  • Teams
    • AL East
      • Baltimore Orioles
      • Boston Red Sox
      • New York Yankees
      • Tampa Bay Rays
      • Toronto Blue Jays
    • AL Central
      • Chicago White Sox
      • Cleveland Guardians
      • Detroit Tigers
      • Kansas City Royals
      • Minnesota Twins
    • AL West
      • Houston Astros
      • Los Angeles Angels
      • Oakland Athletics
      • Seattle Mariners
      • Texas Rangers
    • NL East
      • Atlanta Braves
      • Miami Marlins
      • New York Mets
      • Philadelphia Phillies
      • Washington Nationals
    • NL Central
      • Chicago Cubs
      • Cincinnati Reds
      • Milwaukee Brewers
      • Pittsburgh Pirates
      • St. Louis Cardinals
    • NL West
      • Arizona Diamondbacks
      • Colorado Rockies
      • Los Angeles Dodgers
      • San Diego Padres
      • San Francisco Giants
  • About
    • MLB Trade Rumors
    • Tim Dierkes
    • Writing team
    • Advertise
    • Archives
  • Contact
  • Tools
    • 2023-24 MLB Free Agent List
    • 2024-25 MLB Free Agent List
    • Transaction Tracker
    • Arbitration Tracker
    • Agency Database
  • NBA/NFL/NHL
    • Hoops Rumors
    • Pro Football Rumors
    • Pro Hockey Rumors
  • App
  • Chats
Go To Pro Hockey Rumors
Go To Hoops Rumors

Rangers Announce Roster Decisions

By Mark Polishuk | March 27, 2021 at 6:54pm CDT

The Rangers are finalizing their plans for Opening Day, as manager Chris Woodward told reporters (including Jeff Wilson of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram) about some roster decisions.  The team will select the contracts of Ian Kennedy and Matt Bush prior to the opener, and the newly-acquired Josh Sborz has also won a job in the Texas bullpen.  At first base, Nate Lowe will assume regular duties while Ronald Guzman will work as the backup first baseman and likely be in line for DH at-bats while Khris Davis and Willie Calhoun are on the injured list.

Kennedy and Bush were both signed to minor league contracts in the offseason, and the two veterans could now be the Rangers’ top options for save situations with Jose Leclerc, Joely Rodriguez, Brett Martin, and Jonathan Hernandez all ticketed to begin the season on the IL.  Sborz and Taylor Hearn might also get some looks in the ninth inning as the Rangers figure to be relatively fluid with the closer role unless one of the candidates is particularly dominant.

Once his contract is officially selected, Kennedy will lock in a $2.15MM salary for the 2021 season.  The 36-year-old joined the Rangers after five years with the Royals, with the last two seasons spent as a reliever rather than Kennedy’s customary starting pitching role.  He took well to the new assignment at first, posting an impressive 30-save campaign as Kansas City’s closer in 2019, but struggled over 14 innings last season before his season was ended by a left calf strain in late August.

Bush, meanwhile, hasn’t appeared in a Major League game since 2018 due to a pair of elbow surgeries (including a Tommy John procedure).  Texas signed Bush to a two-year minor league deal in the 2019-20 offseason to allow him to rehab throughout the 2020 campaign, with an eye towards making him available this season.  The first overall pick of the 2004 draft, all of Bush’s MLB experience has come with the Rangers, as he posted a 3.35 ERA and 23.4% strikeout rate over 137 innings out of the Texas bullpen from 2016-18, though walks became an increasing problem over Bush’s three seasons.

There wasn’t much doubt that Guzman would make the roster since he is out of options, though he’ll need to start performing quickly in order to regain a foothold as part of the Rangers’ future plans.  Guzman has hit only .230/.308/.417 with 30 home runs over 809 Major League PA, but given the relatively small sample size and Guzman’s still-young age (26), it isn’t yet out of the question that he could break out at the plate.

Wilson writes that the Rangers are leaning towards using their final remaining 26-man roster opening on a position player, but the team would need to carve out a 40-man roster spot to accommodate either Charlie Culberson or Adolis Garcia (both in camp on minor league deals).  The same would be true if Texas included an extra pitcher on the roster, with minor league signings Luis Ortiz, Hunter Wood, and Hyeon-jong Yang all candidates.

Share 0 Retweet 5 Send via email0

Texas Rangers Ian Kennedy Josh Sborz Matt Bush Nate Lowe Ronald Guzman

Cubs Option Nico Hoerner, Brad Wieck
Main
Reds Roster Notes: Suarez, Senzel, Rotation
View Comments (16)

Comments

  1. birdsfan415

    2 years ago

    former MLB pitcher Michael Kohn announced his retirement on Instagram two days ago

    Reply
  2. DarkSide830

    2 years ago

    cmon no Yang or Martin yet?

    Reply
  3. jdgoat

    2 years ago

    Not a good spring to be a Rangers reliever.

    Reply
    • wbranger

      2 years ago

      Would like to we Adolis Garcia get an opportunity at DH and OF.

      Reply
  4. wbranger

    2 years ago

    Would like to see Ardolis Garcia get an opportunity. Dude can hit.

    Reply
    • Rangers29

      2 years ago

      He really can’t though… I know the surface numbers look like he’s crushing it, but it’s faulty. This is something a Rangers’ fan posted on the SB Nation blog about Adolis:

      “García had a 1.016 OPS in Spring Training in 2020 too

      We saw how well that worked out

      FYI, Baseball reference has a statistic called opponent quality for its Spring Training stats, the scale works as follows:

      10 – MLB
      8 – AAA
      7 – AA
      5 – High A (Cali or Carolina)
      4 – Full-Season A (Midwest and SALLY)
      1.5 to 3 – Rookie or Short-season
      1 – for pitchers if the opposing batter is a pitcher

      Adolis García has an opponent’s quality of 4.8 in 2021 Spring Training. In simple terms, he’s largely faced High-A level opponents.”

      Additionally, he’s still struck out like 28% of the time against those opponents this spring. He’s nothing more than a good ST player if you ask me.

      Reply
      • Guillo

        2 years ago

        How he in 2019 had 32 hr and 98 RBI GENIUS ??? In AAA
        A genius like you said something similar about Arozarena in Sant Louis and he was MVP in the postseason and by the way
        What level is Gallo? He must have 0.5 because he is lifetime hitter 208
        For God’s sake throw your numbers in the trash brother

        Reply
        • Peart of the game

          2 years ago

          Uh, Adolis Garcia draws a walk about as often as Nickelback has made a good song: not very often whereas Gallo draws lots of walks.

        • Rangers29

          2 years ago

          k

        • driftcat28

          2 years ago

          Nickelback had plenty of hits though

        • Guillo

          2 years ago

          Train him to steal bases and place him in the first turn because in fourth place and with a lifetime average of 208 he will be the leader leaving players on bases, a shame of a hitter

  5. Astros_fan_84

    2 years ago

    Poor Rangers. I knew they were hurting for pitching, but I had no idea so many guys were already hurt. Half my family is Rangers fans, all of whom are pretty excited about the new stadium. It’s a pity that the team is going to so bad.

    Reply
    • mlbnyyfan

      2 years ago

      Rangers could have a lot players to trade at the deadline. Kennedy, Bush, Davis, possibly Gallo depending on the return.

      Reply
      • Dumpster Divin Theo

        2 years ago

        Three presidents and a jug wine

        Reply
  6. driftcat28

    2 years ago

    Nate Lowe is going to be a monster this year, don’t sleep on him

    Reply
  7. rangerfan4ever

    2 years ago

    Rangers will be better than anyone is predicting

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Please login to leave a reply.
Log in Register

ad: 300x250_1_MLB

    Top Stories

    Braves Select AJ Smith-Shawver, Designate Lucas Luetge

    Orioles Sign Aaron Hicks, Place Cedric Mullins On IL

    Brewers Designate Luke Voit For Assignment

    White Sox To Activate Liam Hendriks From Injured List

    Royals Release Hunter Dozier

    Yankees Release Aaron Hicks

    Brewers Sign Julio Teheran To Major League Deal

    Red Sox Move Corey Kluber To Bullpen

    Athletics Reach Tentative Stadium Funding Deal With Nevada Lawmakers

    NPB Watch: May Edition

    Yankees Designate Aaron Hicks For Assignment

    Cubs Designate Eric Hosmer For Assignment

    Mets Select Gary Sanchez, Place Tim Locastro On 60-Day IL

    Astros To Activate Jose Altuve

    Rays Recall Taj Bradley, Plan To Keep Him In Rotation

    Kumar Rocker To Undergo Tommy John Surgery

    Anibal Sanchez Announces Retirement

    Willson Contreras To Return To Catching Duties On Monday

    Rockies Place Antonio Senzatela On 15-Day IL Due To Elbow Sprain

    Cubs, Marcus Stroman Had Preliminary Extension Talks

    Recent

    Phillies, Jacob Barnes Agree To Minor League Deal

    Looking Ahead To Upcoming Club Options: NL West

    Tigers To Select Jake Marisnick

    Yankees Place Harrison Bader On Injured List

    Giants Designate Matt Beaty For Assignment

    Rockies Recall Blair Calvo

    Mariners, Adam Engel Agree To Minor League Deal

    Braves Select AJ Smith-Shawver, Designate Lucas Luetge

    Giants To Reinstate Luke Jackson

    Brewers Place Jesse Winker On IL With Neck Strain

    ad: 300x250_5_side_mlb

    MLBTR Newsletter - Hot stove highlights in your inbox, five days a week

    Latest Rumors & News

    Latest Rumors & News

    • Shohei Ohtani Rumors
    Trade Rumors App for iOS and Android

    MLBTR Features

    MLBTR Features

    • Go Ad-Free
    • 2023-24 MLB Free Agent List
    • 2024-25 MLB Free Agent List
    • MLB Player Chats
    • Transaction Tracker
    • Extension Tracker
    • Agency Database
    • MLBTR On Twitter
    • MLBTR On Facebook
    • Team Facebook Pages
    • How To Set Up Notifications For Breaking News
    • Hoops Rumors
    • Pro Football Rumors
    • Pro Hockey Rumors

    Rumors By Team

    • Angels Rumors
    • Astros Rumors
    • Athletics Rumors
    • Blue Jays Rumors
    • Braves Rumors
    • Brewers Rumors
    • Cardinals Rumors
    • Cubs Rumors
    • Diamondbacks Rumors
    • Dodgers Rumors
    • Giants Rumors
    • Guardians Rumors
    • Mariners Rumors
    • Marlins Rumors
    • Mets Rumors
    • Nationals Rumors
    • Orioles Rumors
    • Padres Rumors
    • Phillies Rumors
    • Pirates Rumors
    • Rangers Rumors
    • Rays Rumors
    • Red Sox Rumors
    • Reds Rumors
    • Rockies Rumors
    • Royals Rumors
    • Tigers Rumors
    • Twins Rumors
    • White Sox Rumors
    • Yankees Rumors

    ad: 160x600_MLB

    Navigation

    • Sitemap
    • Archives
    • Feeds by Team

    MLBTR INFO

    • Advertise
    • About
    • Commenting Policy
    • Privacy Policy

    Connect

    • Contact Us
    • Twitter
    • Facebook
    • RSS Feed

    MLB Trade Rumors is not affiliated with Major League Baseball, MLB or MLB.com

    hide arrowsFOX Sports Engage Network scroll to top
    Close

    Desktop Version | Switch To Mobile Version