Texas Rangers transactions: Juan Centeno clears waivers

Texas Rangers transactions: Juan Centeno, the catcher who the Texas Rangers designated for assignment last week when they added newly claimed catcher Carlos Perez to the active roster, has cleared waivers and has accepted an outright assignment to AAA Round Rock, the team announced today. Centeno had the right to refuse an outright assignment.

Currently, the Rangers’ catchers at AAA are Cameron Rupp and Shaq Matta, with Tony Sanchez on the disabled list. Presumably, Centeno and Rupp will share catching duties for the time being. When Sanchez is healthy, the Rangers will have a decision to make about who to hang onto. If and when Isiah Kiner-Falefa gets sent down again, he will be doing some catching, as well.

In other news related to former Texas Rangers catchers who cleared waivers, the Rangers announced that they have received 20 year old righthanded pitcher Emmanuel Clase from the San Diego Padres as the player to be named later in the Brett Nicholas trade. The Rangers traded Nicholas to the Padres in early April, after he had cleared waivers during spring training, for a player to be named later or cash. I had assumed it would end up being cash, but Texas got an actual living, breathing player in the deal.

Clase spent 2015 in the Dominican League, 2016 in the complex league, and split 2017 between the Northwest League and the complex league. He put up a 6.00 ERA in 39 innings in 2017, with 46 Ks against 22 walks, with 6 HBPs and 5 wild pitches. I know nothing about what he throws or anything. Blake says he was assigned to extended spring training, and presumably he will be assigned to a short season team in June.