Monday Newsletter time: Rougned Odor is designated for assignment again, but Texas Rangers still owe him millions
The Yankees cut ties with the infielder, who batted only .202 and struck out 33% of the time in 2021.
Only one of the 30 MLB teams did not make a roster move Friday ahead of the deadline to set 40-man rosters. It was the Miami Marlins, who apparently have it all figured out.
The Texas Rangers added three minor-leaguers and outrighted two players to Triple A to leave their 40-man roster at 37. Among the litany of other moves across the baseball was this one from the New York Yankees:
Rougned Odor was designated for assignment.
He is on waivers for the second time since April, when the Rangers cut ties with the second baseman following a lackluster four seasons since signing a six-year, $49.5 million deal.
The Yankees acquired him in a trade to help give them some left-handed power, but Odor wasn’t all that good. He batted only .202 with 15 homers, 100 strikeouts in 322 at-bats, and a below-average 82 OPS+.
Odor probably isn’t finished. A team will likely take a chance on him, though maybe not on a waiver claim. The bet here is he lands in a big-league camp and is given a chance to make an Opening Day roster.
The Rangers are still on the hook for the $12.33 million owed Odor in the final year of his contract. If he makes a team’s roster, the Rangers’ obligation will be reduced fractionally by the league minimum salary of around $600,000.
Who is Ronny Henriquez?
One of the three players added to the Rangers’ 40-man roster was right-hander Ronny Henriquez, who was joined by infielder Ezequiel Duran and righty Ricky Vanasco.
Henriquez finished 2021 at Double A Frisco, where he struggled some after five nice starts to open the season at High A Hickory. The Rangers see him as a starting pitcher, but could also see him morphing into a relief role.
The versatility might be what convinced the Rangers to protect him from the Rule 5 draft instead of left-hander Cole Ragans, who just completed his first season after two Tommy John surgeries.
The Rangers are betting that teams believe it will be harder to keep Ragans on the active roster all season, a stipulation of any Rule 5 player, because it would be a step back in his development as starter.
Henriquez is only 5-foot-10 and 165 pounds, which doesn’t scream durable starter. But he has the best delivery in the system, is a premium strike-thrower, and the Rangers believe his fastball could play well.
ICYMI …
A hearty welcome to all the new free and paid subscribers to the Newsletter the past 10 days. The paid subscribers, who spent either $60 for the year or are paying $5.99 a month, have been privy to all stories we’ve published. Here’s a sampling for all you cats considering going paid, in case you missed it.
The Sunday Read: Inside the Chris Woodward extension decision
Friday on the Farm: Ranking the top five starting pitchers
A newsy Friday and an interesting quote.
Texas Rangers Baseball Podcast: Guest TK Roby.
T.R.’s Memoirs: Michael Young’s early years.
Doggy video!
Dog and camera appear to be stumped. Enjoy. See you Tuesday … maybe.
Jeff, want to thank you for the newsletter and wish you a very happy Thanksgiving. As an old baseball aficionado (saw my first game in 1947 at Ebbets Field) I appreciate getting it daily.
Is the idea that teams would not claim Ragans because it would set back his development as a starter, one that the Rangers have actually expressed, or is it just the prevailing theory that they feel that way?