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The Texas Rangers have claimed infielder Donnie Murphy and pitcher Seth Rosin on waivers. To make room for Murphy and Rosin on the 40 man roster, the Rangers have released pitcher Tommy Hanson and placed outfielder Engel Beltre on the 60 day disabled list.
The Rangers signed Hanson earlier in the offseason in the hopes that he could provide the team with starting pitching depth. However, reports from Surprise indicated that Hanson's stuff simply wasn't major league quality, and the Rangers opted to release him and pay him his $125,000 termination fee rather than pay him the $2 million he would have made if he had opened the season on the 25 man roster.
Beltre was out of options and had had a disappointing spring before being diagnosed with a fractured tibia. He will presumably stay in Surprise and rehabilitate, before going out on a minor league rehab assignment at some point later in 2014.
Murphy, 31, spent the 2013 season with the Cubs, and had a .255/.319/.530 slash line in 163 plate appearances while playing second base, third base, and shortstop. The Rangers will presumably take a look at him as a possible utility infielder or second base option. Murphy has spent time in the majors with the Royals, A's, Marlins and Cubs, but has never had more than the 163 PAs he had last year, and has 803 career major league plate appearances.
Rosin, 25, is a 6'6", 265 lb. righthanded pitcher born in Fargo, North Dakota, who was a fifth round pick of the San Francisco Giants out of the University of Minnesota in 2010. Rosin went to Philadelphia from San Fran as part of the Hunter Pence trade, and spent last season in AA Reading, the Phillies' Eastern League affiliate, and he put up a 4.33 ERA in 126.2 innings with 96 Ks and 35 walks. Rosin was selected by the Mets in the Rule 5 draft this offseason and then sent to the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Dodgers waived Rosin, which is how the Rangers claimed him. Rosin has to spent the 2014 season on the major league roster...if the Rangers want to drop him from the 25 man roster (without putting him on the d.l.), he would have to clear waivers and then be offered back to the Phillies.
John Sickels did a write-up on Rosin after he was taken in the Rule 5 draft in December, noting that he profiles better as a reliever than a starter. If Rosin sticks on the Ranger 25 man roster to start the season, he will be in the bullpen.
