Texas Rangers sign Josh Fields to minor league deal

The Texas Rangers have signed relief pitcher Josh Fields to a minor league deal, the team has announced. Fields was signed by the Brewers in late spring, and had an 8.22 ERA in 7.2 IP over 8 outings for AAA San Antonio.

The 33 year old Fields is a righthander who originally was a 1st round pick of the Mariners in 2006. Fields, like Logan Forsythe, has a Chris Woodward/Los Angeles Dodgers connection, having spent time with L.A. from 2016-18, putting up a 2.61 ERA in 117 IP. Fields was acquired by the Dodgers in a trade in 2016 that sent Yordan Alvarez, now a highly-regarded prospect, to Houston. Houston had acquired him as a Rule 5 pick prior to 2013. The Dodgers released Fields in March, 2019.

Fields struggled for San Antonio but has had success in the last few seasons, and with the Rangers looking for pitching depth, and Woodward being familiar with Fields, this is a reasonable move. He will presumably work out of the bullpen with Nashville while the Rangers see if he is fixable.