Rangers Claim Joe Koshansky Off Waivers From Colorado

The Rangers, apparently seeking to beef up their supply of left-handed hitting first baseman, claimed Joe Koshansky off waivers from Colorado on Sunday. He has already been optioned to Triple-A Oklahoma, where he is expected to be the starting first baseman in an infield that could include German Duran (second), Joaquin Arias (shortstop) and Travis Metcalf (third base).

Koshansky, 26, has been a September callup each of the last two years with Colorado. He has a .180 (9-for-50) batting average in 35 major league games. He has averaged more than 30 homers and 100 RBIs in each of his four full minor league seasons in the Rockies system.

The move gives the Rangers a full 40-man roster and may make it more difficult to trim the roster to make room for veteran non-roster players who will make the Opening Day roster.

Sources: Tom Hicks Is Seeking Investment Partners For Sports Empire

Apparently, even multi-millionaire sports owners aren’t immune from the current economic slowdown and credit crunch.

In an effort to keep his sports empire ahead of the struggling economy, Rangers/Stars owner Tom Hicks has started courting potential investors to take on minority shares of one or both clubs, three sources said this week. Reached by email at Tuesday’s Stars-Vancouver game, Hicks declined to comment. TSN, Canada’s version of ESPN, also reports Hicks is interested in adding investors.

(more…)

Andruw Jones Update: Texas Rangers Now Considering Him A Cleanup Option

NOTICE: THIS POST IS, AS WE SAY, “DEVELOPING.” IT MAY BE UPDATED THROUGHOUT THE DAY.

SURPRISE, Ariz. – The latest twist in the strange spring saga of Andruw Jones:

The Rangers, who a week ago were considering releasing him from his minor league contract, are now looking at him as a cleanup option against left-handed pitching. Jones is hitting fourth today against Seattle lefty Jarrod Washburn. Nelson Cruz, who was expected to be the team’s cleanup hitter against lefties, is hitting fifth.

“This is what I’m considering for today in Peoria,” manager Ron Washington said. “Andruw has hit fourth many times in his career. There are going to be plenty of times that Nelson plays and Andruw isn’t in there that I’ll probably put Cruz in there. Nelson has done a great job in the clanup spot, but I also feel like Andruw can hit there and Nelson can protect him, too.”

(more…)

Andruw Jones Situation May Be Taking Dramatic Turn; He Could End Up Rangers’ Right-Handed Hitting DH

SURPRISE, Ariz. – The three-day extension to Andruw Jones’ minor league contract with Rangers may end up turning into a much longer stay.

Less than a week after informing Jones he had virtually no chance to make the Opening Day roster, the Rangers have had a significant change of heart. After Saturday’s 8-4 win over Colorado, team officials retired to a quickly scheduled evaluation meeting to discuss the roster in general, but Jones specifically.

(more…)

Blogging Forecast For Friday Afternoon: We’re Majoring In The Minors And Cryptic Comments

Believe it was the great former Ranger Mark McLemore who once explained the veteran’s perspective on going to road games when the club trained in Florida.

There were two rules:
1. He didn’t do Forts or Ports.
2. No more than one long bridge over water.

(more…)

Andruw Jones Likely To Stick Around For At Least A Couple More Days

According to a source close to the situation, Jones is not expected to officially opt out of his minor league contract today. He will give the Rangers at least several more days to evaluate him. While Jones has not started an “A” game for a week, he has apparently started clobbering balls in minor league games. He hit two homers in a game earlier this week.

Jones is in camp today and has not cleared out his locker. He is getting prepared for a workout, but is not travelling to Tucson with the club for the afternoon exhibition.

Morning Notes: Minor League Cuts And Other Stuff

The Rangers made these cuts today:

Optioned to Triple-A Oklahoma: OF Greg Golson, OF Julio Borbon and INF German Duran;  Optioned to Double-A Frisco: RHP John Bannister; Re-assigned to minor league camp (because they are not on the 40-man roster): 1B Justin Smoak, LHP Joe Torres and RHP Elizardo Ramirez.

This pretty much means that everybody in camp – with two notable exceptions – is a contender for the Opening Day roster. Those exceptions: RHP Neftali Feliz and LHP Derek Holland. Manager Ron Washington said the two prized prospects have not and will not wrangle their way into contention for a big league roster spot.

(more…)

Black Sunday: Hank Blalock is Latest Addition to Rangers Injury List

Hank Blalock has come out of the game with tightness in his left quadriceps muscle. Blalock was supposed to make his spring debut at third base on Thursday. I’m guessing that’s going to get pushed back a bit.  So, your injuries for today are: Blalock (quadriceps), Tommy Hunter (groin) and C.J. Wilson (split callus).

Somebody call a doctor.

Rangers Make First Round of Cuts

SURPRISE, Ariz. – The Rangers made their first round of roster cuts this morning, sending eight players over to the minor league camp. No huge surprises on the list.  RHP Thomas Diamond, LHP Kaason Gabbard, RHP Guillermo Moscoso, RHP Omar Poveda and INF Jose Valleyjo were optioned. RHP Casey Daigle, C Kevin Richardson and C Manny Pina were re-assigned to minor league camp.  Though none of the names were huge surprises, there were a few worth spending a moment or two discussing: (more…)

The Daily Blister Report: Mendoza Healing; C.J. Wilson Not So Much

SURPRISE, Ariz. - The Rangers don’t believe C.J. Wilson’s second minor injury of spring training yet imperils his chance to make the Opening Day roster, but his next pitching outing is “on hold” for a while.

Wilson split open a callus on his left middle finger during morning workouts Saturday, which made him unavailable for his scheduled one-inning outing against the Chicago White Sox later in the day. His next tenative scheduled outing is Tuesday, but assistant general manager Thad Levine acknowledged that it is unlikely he’ll be ready for that outing. Wilson has pitched just 1.1 innings over the last 10 days. He left a March 6 game after getting just one out because he was hit on the hand by a ground ball.

The question now becomes: How much time can Wilson afford to miss before his spot on the Opening Day roster becomes imperiled?

(more…)