Veteran right-handed pitchers Joe Ross and Chris Paddack and outfielder Jarred Kelenic all rejected outright assignments by the Texas Rangers and became free agents on Thursday.
Paddack spent less than four days with the club. He signed on Monday and appeared that night in a bulk relief role against the Cleveland Guardians. After spreading two runs and seven hits over four innings, Paddack was designated for assignment the next day before passing through waivers.
Paddack, 30, has already spent time with the Miami Marlins, Cincinnati Reds and Rangers this season. He is 0-7 with a 6.79 ERA in 14 games (nine starts).
Ross, 33, got into five games for Texas and allowed four earned runs over eight innings (4.50 ERA) with one loss. He started the season with the Arizona Diamondbacks and has a 9.26 ERA in eight total relief appearances (11 2/3 innings).
Kelenic, 26, also didn’t last long with his second team of the season and the fourth of his MLB career. A former top prospect for the New York Mets and Seattle Mariners, Kelenic began this year with the Chicago White Sox and was granted free agency at the end of May. He soon signed with Texas and only played in seven games, batting 1-for-8.
In other moves, the Rangers selected the contract of right-hander Ben Peoples from Triple-A Round Rock, optioned right-hander Winston Santos to Round Rock and transferred left-hander Jordan Montgomery’s rehab assignment from Double-A Frisco to Triple-A.
The Rangers acquired Peoples, 25, from the White Sox for catcher Ben Hartl this week and could make his major league debut with Texas. He was 5-1 with a 2.39 ERA in 29 relief appearances for Triple-A Charlotte, striking out 45 with 21 walks.
Santos, 24, made his MLB debut Wednesday and allowed two runs on two hits in two innings of relief in a 9-4 loss at Cleveland.
