Shawn Tolleson, Lucas Harrell clear waivers

The Texas Rangers have announced that pitchers Shawn Tolleson and Lucas Harrell have cleared waivers and been outrighted to ÀÀA Round Rock.  Both players have the right to reject an outright assignment, and my assumption would be be that they will do so and elect free agency.

Tolleson is the more surprising decision -- he did solid work for the Rangers out of the bullpen in both 2014 and 2015, and entered the 2016 season as the team's closer.  However, he had an awful 2016 season, and ended the year on the 60 day disabled list due to a back injury.  While Tolleson is arbitration-eligible, and would like command close to $4 million in the process, I thought his history of success was enough that the Rangers would bring him back in 2017.  Apparently not.

Harrell, meanwhile, was acquired from the Braves this summer, along with Dario Alvarez, in exchange for Travis Demeritte.  Harrell was mediocre for a few starts, then got hurt and spent the rest if the season on the disabled list.  Like Tolleson, he was arbitration-eligible, but I thought Texas might decide to keep him around as cheap rotation depth.  Again, apparently not.