• P Nick Martinez purchased from AA Frisco
• P Daniel McCutchen optioned to AA Frisco [ Link ]
• C Chris Gimenez cleared waivers, but refused assignment to minors, now a FA

NOTES: The roster move to get our announced fifth starter on the roster was made here.  I think most Ranger fans had a collective scratching of the head when they said that Martinez was to make the club as the fifth starter.  I know I certainly didn’t know much about him.  Jamey Newberg probably did, but I didn’t.

I was wrong about Chris Gimenez.  He’s gone. He refused his assignment to the minors and is a free agent.   He never technically played for the Rangers in 2014, but he WAS on the opening day roster.

• C Chris Gimenez designated for assignment
• P Daniel McCutchen purchased from AAA
• P Michael Kirkman clears waivers, outrighted to AAA [ Link ]

NOTES: That didn’t take long.  The third catcher (Chris Gimenez) has been DFA’ed to bring up some bullpen help in the form of Daniel McCutchen.  McCutchen played with Pittsburgh the last few years, and had decent numbers there, so hopefully he can do well here.  Kirkman, who seems to have run out of steam with Texas cleared waivers and went to AAA.   Gimenez probably will end up at AAA, I’d wager.

Well, here it is.  The big bomb of moves made to bring the roster to 25 for opening day.

• IF Josh Wilson purchased from AAA
• IF Adam Rosales designated for assignment
• P Yu Darvish placed on 15 day DL, retro to Mar 21
• IF Jurickson Profar placed on 15 day DL, retro to Mar 23
• P Matt Harrison placed on 15 day DL, retro to Mar 29
• C Geovany Soto placed on 60 day DL [ Link ]

This makes the opening day 25:

• PITCHERS (11): Neal Cotts, Pedro Figueroa, Jason Frasor, Alexi Ogando, Martin Perez, Seth Rosin, Robbie Ross, Jr., Joe Saunders, Tanner Scheppers, Joakim Soria, Shawn Tolleson.
• CATCHERS (3): J.P. Arencibia, Robinson Chirinos, Chris Gimenez.
• INFIELDERS (5): Elvis Andrus, Adrian Beltre, Prince Fielder, Donnie Murphy, Josh Wilson.
• OUTFIELDERS (6): Jim Adduci, Michael Choice, Shin-Soo Choo, Leonys Martin, Mitch Moreland, Alex Rios.

Some of these guys won’t be here long, as Darvish will likely miss just one start.   Donnie Murphy & Josh Wilson were both pickups the last week of spring, so it’s not a huge surprise they’re here, although I wonder how much of an impact they’ll make long term.   Chris Gimenez is a bit of a surprise, and I figure might be the first on the chopping block when it’s time to make a roster move.

Pitchers:  Joe Saunders..  I hear Darth Vader screaming “Nooooooooooooooooo” somewhere.  Shawn Tolleson & Seth Rosin, as well as Pedro Figueroa are unknowns to me – especially at this level.   The rest of the guys we know about, although I wonder how Scheppers will handle opening day.

Feels like a wobbly roster given how hurt we’ve been, but I’ve rooted for worse teams than this in the past.  I’ll give it a shot to see how it goes.

• C J.P. Arencebia signed to 1 year contract

NOTES: Well, I would have rather kept AJ Pierzynski, but JP can catch.  He’s another one of those guys much like Soto.  Great catcher.  Not a great hitter.  JP has some pop – can hit a few home runs, but not terribly much else.  Strikes out a lot.  Had 148 of them in 2013.

So basically, we’ll have Soto & Arencebia splitting the catching duties in 2014.   They say Soto will be the #1 guy with JP backing up, but my gut says it will be a lot closer to 50/50 than that statement.

• P Jose Contreras (yes, that one) signed to minor league contract w/ invite to spring training.
• LF Bryan Petersen signed to minor league contract w/ invite to spring training.
• P Nate Adcock signed to minor league contract w/ invite to spring training.

NOTES: Jose Contreras?  Seriously?!?  Why don’t we just bring back Mark Clark while you’re at it?

• OF Craig Gentry & P Josh Lindblom traded to Oakland A’s for OF Michael Choice & 2B Chris Bostick.

NOTES: Lindblom was most known as the guy traded for Michael Young’s departure from Texas.  His departure FROM Texas is no big deal, as he was a bust here.  Craig Gentry however was a bit of a surprise.  He was clearly the fastest guy on our team, and speed is not something you can coach.  While Michael Choice has some upside (and he’s a local boy, from Arlington), it is a bit of an eyebrow raiser.   I really liked Gentry, some I have to hope that Choice steps up and is incredibly good.   Here’s hoping.

• SS Jose Contreras (not THAT one) signed to a minor league contract (Nov 26)
• C Melvin Novoa signed to a minor league contract (Nov 26)
• CF Rafael Ortega claimed off waivers from Colorado Rockies (Nov 27)
• P Yonelvy Pichardo signed to a minor league contract (Nov 27)

NOTES: Uh, OK.

• 2B Ian Kinsler traded to Detroit Tigers for 1B Prince Fielder & $
• P Shawn Tolleson claimed off waivers from Los Angeles Dodgers
• SS Luis Sardinas & P Lisalverto Bonilla were “selected” from AA Frisco
• P Ben Rowen was “selected” from AAA Round Rock
• P Edwar Cabrera was outrighted to AAA

NOTES: Obviously the big deal here is the trade of Ian Kinsler to Detroit.  Despite my calling him Capt Uppercut for several years now, and his horrible tendency to want to hit EVERY ball over the left field fence, he was here for a long time.  I’ll miss the presence in the lineup.  Next April it will feel weird having someone else (likely Profar) out there at second base.

Having said that, what you get back is Prince Fielder.  He’s a guy I’ve always wanted to have on my team, and I never quite thought I would.  He has one of those swings that our Home Run porch was made for.   We’ll have him through the 2020 season if the contract stays the same.  We’re getting $30 million from the Tigers to help pay for his contract.  That $30M will come here through the 2016-2020 seasons.

His stick is quite exciting to think about.  His defense, not as much.  I suspect if Mitch Moreland had figured out how to hit the ball before now, we wouldn’t have made this move.  But I’m quite excited to see what Prince Fielder can do in our Ballpark.  :)

Here’s a collection of minor moves in November 2013:

• P Ross Wolf signed, assigned to AAA (Nov 4)
• C Geovany Soto elected free agency (Nov 4)
• P Travis Blackley elected free agency (Nov 4)
• P Matt Harrison activated from 60 day DL (Nov 4)
• P Edwar Cabrera roster status changed (Nov 4 – what the heck does that MEAN)
• P Colby Lewis elected free agency (Nov 5)
• C Geovany Soto signed to a 1 year contract (Nov 5)
• SS Franklin Rollin signed to a minor league contract (Nov 9)
• OF Angelo Santana signed to a minor league contract (Nov 11)
• P Zach Russell signed to a minor league contract (Nov 11)
• OF Brad Snyder signed to a minor league contract w/invite to spring (Nov 14)
• OF Kalian Sams signed to a minor league contract (Nov 15)
• OF Jake Smolinski signed to a minor league contract (Nov 18)

NOTES: This is another batch of guys whose names I am probably never writing again on here.   However, Geovany Soto was signed back after a procedural move through free agency.   When he was signed, it was said he would be “the man”, the #1 catcher.  I have never had a problem with his catching.  His hitting however, is more of a problem.   I agree we probably need him, but I’d feel better with someone stronger as the #1 catcher, though – just from an offensive standpoint.

Colby Lewis was technically granted free agency, but both sides have said they wanted to work something out, so he’ll be back.

• P Joe Nathan elected free agency
• P Chaz Roe claimed off waivers from Arizona Diamondbacks

NOTES: I was a bit sad, but not completely surprised we didn’t keep Joe Nathan.  When we first signed him, I wasn’t sure how that would play out – coming back from an injury and all. But he was great when he was here.  I hope we can pull something together without him, as I doubt we’d bring in another FA closer, we would have just kept Nathan in that case.