The Rangers have signed infielder Donovan Solano and right-hander Cal Quantrill to minor league contracts, the team informed reporters (including Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News). Both players had recently been released — Solano by the Mariners, Quantrill by the Braves.
Solano follows in the footsteps of former M’s teammate Dylan Moore. He signed with Texas days after being released by Seattle in late August. Marcus Semien had just landed on the injured list, and Texas lost Corey Seager to an appendectomy a couple days later. Moore was quickly called up and is usually in the lineup when the Rangers face a left-handed starting pitcher. Texas also has Rowdy Tellez operating as a bench bat after signing him following a release from Seattle in June.
The 37-year-old Solano provides veteran depth in that injury-riddled infield. Cody Freeman and Josh Smith are the primary middle infield duo. First baseman Jake Burger has been injured three times this year. Moore and Ezequiel Duran are ahead of Solano as right-handed bench bats. Solano might be the first one up if another player goes down before Seager returns, as Texas hasn’t wanted to give Justin Foscue (their only position player on optional assignment) much playing time.
Solano signed a $3.5MM free agent contract with Seattle over the winter. His .252/.295/.344 slash across 69 games was below his typical level. Solano had been an average or better hitter each season from 2019-24. Seattle didn’t start him anywhere other than first base, but he has plenty of experience at second and third base as well.
Quantrill is on his third team of the year. The veteran starter signed with the Marlins for $3.5MM over the offseason. Quantrill struggled to a 5.50 earned run average over 24 starts. Miami didn’t find a taker at the trade deadline and placed the former eighth overall pick on waivers last month. The Braves placed a claim that got the Fish off the hook for the rest of the salary.
It proved an ill-advised move for Atlanta. They only gave Quantrill two starts, over which he was blasted for 12 runs in eight innings. The Braves released him last week. Quantrill now has an ERA a little north of 6.00 across 117 2/3 frames. His 16.6% strikeout rate is well below average. Quantrill throws a lot of strikes but has become increasingly susceptible to the home run over the past couple seasons. He’s now three years removed from a career season in Cleveland, when he took the ball 32 times and posted a 3.38 ERA through 186 1/3 innings.
The injury bug for Texas has carried into the rotation. Tyler Mahle will need at least one more rehab start as he works back from a shoulder injury. Nathan Eovaldi probably won’t be back this year due to a strained rotator cuff. Jon Gray is done for the season. Texas has gotten solid work from lefty Jacob Latz, who has stepped in as the fifth starter behind Jacob deGrom, Merrill Kelly, Jack Leiter and Patrick Corbin.
Any other injury, at least until Mahle returns, would essentially leave them with no one who can step in as a fifth starter. Kumar Rocker is out of the short-term picture as he works on mechanical issues. Tampa Bay claimed swingman Caleb Boushley off waivers this week. Quantrill isn’t a high-upside pickup but is at least stretched out and could make a spot start if anyone else goes down.
Texas has managed to stay within a game and a half in the Wild Card race despite the injuries. Neither Solano nor Quantrill would be eligible for the playoff roster if they qualify. They’ll each be free agents again at season’s end. These additions are solely about adding organizational depth for the next three weeks. Texas would owe either player the prorated $740K league minimum for however long they spend in the majors if they promote them.
haggerty, tellez, moore, solano. texas is just seattle jr this year huh
makes it all the sweeter if they manage to overtake seattle for WC3
I think it’s just as likely that Texas takes the division. Houston doesn’t look good and Seattle is….Seattle.
Seattle only has 6 more road games I believe. We are a way better team at home than away. Seattle wins the Div and the Rangers get early vacations.
Don’t underestimate Seattle’s ability to snatch defeat out of the jaws of victory.
As a fan of the mariners I hate the accuracy of your statement.
Sad times when one is loading up on bats the Mariners cast away
Keep on going Solano; only one more service year on the way to ten.
Always like to see when the lower tier guys get there. Hard work over god given talent is a feel good story.
Exactly. You just gotta love to see the somewhat anonymous, no headlines guys who constitute a large part of MLB succeed. It always feels good to see them grind it out quietly, on the way to 10 years of service.
He’s living proof of how weird the 2020 season was. He won a Silver Slugger award.
Oh ya !
The year of Donny Barrels.
All the fake fans loved his clutch hitting.
Why would only fake fans appreciate clutch hitting?
The cut out ones at the stadium…
I’m naming my next son “Kevin Pillar” or “Brandon Crawford” for pretty much the same reason. So clutch and productive in “MLB The Show”.
It’s still hard to believe that the Rangers offense has struggled so much this year. It was a borderline elite offense when they won the WS. And it hasn’t changed too much since then.