Texas Rangers sign Jared Hoying to minor league deal

The Texas Rangers announced today that they have officially signed outfielders Jared Hoying and Cesar Puello to minor league deals, with invitations to the major league spring training.

The deal with Puello had come out a few days ago, so the official announcement is no big deal.

Hoying, on the other hand, is a bit more interesting because he had been on the Rangers’ 40 man roster, and was non-tendered, rather than waived. Doing that suggested that the Rangers expected they would be able to sign him to a minor league deal, probably for more than Hoying would receive elsewhere on a minor league deal, in order to free up a 40 man roster spot. This eliminated the risk that the Rangers would waive Hoying, another team would claim him, then that team would waive him in an effort to outright him, and we’d play procedural music chairs with Hoying until some team snuck him through waivers, finally.

Hoying is a nice depth option for the Rangers in AAA, a quality defensive outfielder who can play all three positions. He will presumably be at Round Rock unless and until the Rangers need reinforcements in the outfield at the major league level.