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Texas Rangers news: Catcher Chris Gimenez has been claimed on waivers by the Rangers from the Oakland A's, and Texas has designated lefthanded pitcher Michael Kirkman for assignment.
Gimenez, who is out of options and can refuse an outright assignment, was claimed by the Oakland A's on waivers in December, 2013, after he had been waived by the Tampa Bay Rays. Since he is out of options, the Rangers have to either keep him on the 25 man roster, or else waive him before Opening Day. The 31 year old Gimenez, who has also played some outfield and first base in the majors, could be looked at as a short-term bench option, given the other injuries the Rangers are dealing with.
Kirkman, 27, is a hard-throwing lefthanded pitcher who at one point was being mentioned in the same breath as Derek Holland and Matt Harrison as a quality lefty starting pitching prospect. Kirkman never stabilized his command, however, and being out of options, his landing on the waiver wire this spring seemed inevitable.
Kirkman was the last remaining remnant of the Rangers' disastrous 2005 draft, which produced only three players with a positive career bWAR -- John Mayberry, Jr., Taylor Teagarden, and Doug Mathis.
