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Texas Rangers rumors: Dillon Tate is in Arlington tonight, according to the beat guys, and the word from them is that a deal between the Rangers and Tate could be announced tonight. Tate is apparently undergoing a physical now, in anticipation of a deal being struck.
We have a Dillon Tate sighting. pic.twitter.com/OCxlZrMkx6
— Anthony Andro (@aandro) June 12, 2015
Tate was the Rangers' first round draft choice, #4 overall, earlier this week in the MLB Draft. The 21 year old junior righthander from UC-Santa Barbara pitched largely in relief prior to this year, and is seen as a potential top of the rotation starter if he can stay in the rotation, and a potential late-inning shutdown reliever if he winds up in the pen.
With Tate and third round draft choice Mike Matuella, a righthander out of Duke who was a potential #1 overall pick before undergoing Tommy John surgery in April, the Rangers plucked a pair of college pitchers who are seen as a couple of the highest potential-reward picks in this year's draft.
UPDATE -- Per John Blake, the Rangers and Tate have agreed to terms, and Tate will be reporting to the Rangers' short-season A affiliate in the Northwest League, the Spokane Indians.
UPDATE -- The Rangers have also agreed to terms with 4th rounder Jake Lemoine, as well as Dylan Moore, Blake Bass, Leon Byrd, Peter Fairbanks, and Ledarius Clark. The only players selected in the first ten rounds (and thus who have to be signed, or the Rangers lose their bonus pool money) who have not signed are 2nd rounder Eric Jenkins, 3rd rounder Mike Matuella, 5th rounder Chad Smith, and 6th rounder Tyler Ferguson.