Texas Rangers transactions: Sherten Apostel has been optioned to AAA Round Rock, the team announced today, and A.J. Alexy, David Garcia and Yerry Rodriguez have been optioned to AA Frisco. That leaves the Rangers with 34 players, by my account, on the 40 man roster who have not been sent down or put on the injured list.
None of these moves are a surprise, as none of the four were seen as serious candidates to make the Opening Day roster, and as there is no “minor league camp” right now to send the players to, the moves are purely procedural. Apostel, a corner infielder who made his major league debut last year, is expected to start the year at the Alternate Training Site before heading to Round Rock once AAA play begins.
A.J. Alexy and Yerry Rodriguez are righthanded pitchers who I’m guessing will start the year with AA Frisco, though they could possibly end up at high-A Hickory. Yerry, 23, had a strong 2018 season in short-season ball that put him on the prospect map, and then had a 2.04 ERA in 73.2 IP over 13 games at what was then low-A Hickory in 2019 before an elbow issue ended his season. Alexy, 22, missed most of 2019 due to injuries, but impressed in 2020 in camp and Instructional League action. While Alexy is still apparently working as a starter, he is someone who could move quickly if the team shifts him to the bullpen.
Garcia, who just turned 21, is a switch hitting catcher with strong defensive skills whose bat made strides in short-season ball in the second half of 2019. There was some mild surprise at him being added to the 40 man roster this offseason, given that he has yet to play full season ball, but the Rangers like his glove and upside enough that they didn’t want to risk another team grabbing him in the Rule 5 draft. My guess is that he will start the 2021 season at high-A.