Texas Rangers sign Bartolo Colon, Trevor Plouffe to minor league deals

The Texas Rangers have signed Bartolo Colon and Trevor Plouffe to minor league deals, the team announced today. Colon and Plouffe were both in the Rangers’ camp this spring on minor league deals, and each was released at the end of last week.

Colon will presumably be added to the major league roster to start the fifth game of the season for Texas, on Monday, April 2, at Oakland. Under his original deal, Colon was guaranteed $1.5 million, and Texas reportedly wanted to re-do the deal so that they could have him potentially start a game or two without necessarily being on the hook for that full amount. Martin Perez is expected to be activated to start against the A’s on April 5, at which point Colon could end up being waived. Presumably, the Rangers and Colon have discussed whether he would accept a minor league assignment, should he be waived at that point. Alternatively, the Rangers could keep Colon in the bullpen as a long man.

Plouffe, meanwhile, will presumably be at AAA Round Rock, where he will give the Rangers some insurance at the corner spots.

The Rangers will have to open up forty man roster spots for Colon, as well as for Kevin Jepsen, who is expected to make the Opening Day roster. One spot could be opened up by putting Ricky Rodriguez on the 60 day d.l., since he is expected to be out to start the season, and could be sent out on a rehab assignment in May. Eliezer Alvarez and Tommy Joseph, who were recently claimed on waivers, could end up being roster casualities, as well.