Rangers claim Charlie Leesman on waivers

The Rangers have claimed lefthanded pitcher Charlie Leesman on waivers from the Chicago White Sox.

Leesman, 26, has never pitched in the majors, and reached AAA for the first time in 2012. He put up a 2.47 ERA in 135 innings over 26 starts, striking out 103 and walking 52 while allowing 8 homers. The ERA is misleading because, while he allowed just 37 earned runs, he allowed another 17 unearned runs.

Leesman has not struck out as many as 7 batters per 9 innings in any season other than 2008, the year he was drafted, when he struck out 11 batters in 10 innings. He has also walked 3.9 batters per 9 innings in his minor league career. There's not a lot I've seen that indicates that Leesman is much of a prospect. In addition, he tore his ACL in September, so he is out until the All Star Break.

Leesman was on release waivers, so apparently, he has five days to decide whether to accept being claimed by the Rangers, or whether to just take his release.

Leesman being claimed would put the Rangers' 40 man roster back to 40, but he and Matt Harrison both are 60 day d.l. candidates, so the Rangers could clear a 40 man spot or two, if they wished.