Rangers Notes: Cactus League Update No. 2

Prince Fielder, hitting just .143 with no extra-base hits this spring, was diagnosed with sleep apnea last week.

Although spring training statistics mean nothing once the regular season begins, the Rangers have looked sharp so far with a Cactus League record of 8-3-1 while leading all MLB teams in batting average (.326) as well as on-base percentage (.389).

The two most significant developments of camp have come from the right side of the Texas infield, where second baseman Rougned Odor has been dealing with tightness in his oblique muscle while first baseman Prince Fielder learned what had been causing him to have restless nights.

Fielder came back to the metroplex to undergo a sleep study last Wednesday, and he returned to the team’s spring complex in Arizona on Friday with a diagnosis of sleep apnea.

“I wasn’t panicking,” Fielder said. “I just wanted to make sure I was okay. I felt like I was sleeping long, but I wasn’t feeling rested. That was my concern, trying to figure out what was wrong with that.

“Now that I know what it is, it’s good. I can breathe through the night now.”

As for Odor, he was scratched from the starting lineup last Tuesday with a strained right oblique muscle and has not played since. In his absence, non-roster invitees Pedro Ciriaco and Drew Robinson have received most of the playing time at second base for Texas.

After taking full batting practice on Sunday, the Rangers are hopeful that Odor can return to action later this week.

Elsewhere on the diamond, outfielders Ryan Rua and Justin Ruggiano have both worked out at first base, where they could be used as a right-handed complement to Fielder or Mitch Moreland.

Ian Desmond is continuing his transition from shortstop to left field, reaching out to four-time Gold Glove award winner Alex Gordon for advice on making the switch from corner infield to corner outfield.

Each of the top four members of the projected starting rotation (Cole Hamels, Derek Holland, Colby Lewis and Martin Perez) have appeared in at least one “A” game, with candidates for the fifth spot (Chi Chi Gonzalez, Jeremy Guthrie, Nick Martinez and Nick Tepesch) receiving starts as well.

Out of the bullpen, newcomer Tony Barnette began the spring with three straight scoreless outings before allowing a pair of runs Friday against Milwaukee, and closer Shawn Tolleson has not appeared in a game yet because of tightness in his lower back.

Beltre Seeks Three-Year Deal

It was reported Wednesday that third baseman Adrian Beltre is interested in a contract extension that could keep him with the Rangers beyond his 40th birthday.

According to Jon Heyman of MLB Network, Beltre – who will turn 37 in April – would like a three-year deal from the ballclub in the range of $19 million annually, similar to the one Pablo Sandoval received from Boston last winter.

Beltre will earn $18 million this season, which is the last of the six-year deal he signed with Texas in January 2011.

The four-time All-Star batted .287 with 32 doubles last year while playing most of the season with a torn ligament in his left thumb, which he had surgically repaired following the playoffs.

Deglan among First Roster Cuts

Left-handed-hitting catcher Kellin Deglan was one of three players re-assigned to minor-league camp by the Rangers on Saturday, along with pitchers Miles Jaye and Scott Williams.

Deglan, 23, was taken out of high school by Texas in the first round of the 2010 draft (No. 22 overall) and has made a steady climb through the Rangers’ farm system over the past six seasons.

Jaye and Williams, both non-roster righties, had appeared in two Cactus League games apiece for Texas.

(UPDATE: In another round of roster moves Monday afternoon, right-hander Steve Johnson was released while Pat Kivlehan was optioned to Triple-A Round Rock and Jose Leclerc, Yohander Mendez and Connor Sadzeck were optioned to Double-A Frisco.)

Rangers Notes: Desmond Signed to Play Left Field

Ian Desmond has averaged more than 150 games played, 50 extra-base hits and 20 stolen bases over the past six years for Washington.

With Josh Hamilton expected to miss the first few weeks of the regular season following another knee injury, the Rangers signed free agent Ian Desmond to a one-year contract worth $8 million on Monday.

Despite being a shortstop for nearly his entire professional career, Desmond will make the transition to left field for Texas – and the starting job is now his to lose.

“This wasn’t a desperation move,” Desmond said of his willingness to become an outfielder. “This was me getting to free agency and deciding as a man that I was ready to make a change.”

The 30-year-old Desmond had been with the Washington franchise since being taken by Montreal in the third round of the 2004 amateur draft, making his big-league debut for the Nationals in 2009.

He made one start in the outfield during his rookie season and logged one-third of an inning in right the following year, but that’s been the extent of his defensive experience beyond the middle infield at the major-league level.

Lack of experience, however, was not a factor when Desmond made the choice to accept his new role with Texas.

“In joining this team, I did my research, and this is an unbelievable group of guys who do what’s necessary to win,” he said. “I consider myself a team guy. Obviously I respect every position and the challenges, but as far as swallowing my pride and moving to the outfield, that’s not a problem.”

Desmond’s greatest value lies in his offensive production, and he will now be counted upon to fill the hole in the Texas lineup caused by Hamilton’s absence.

From 2012 to ’14, Desmond had put together three consecutive seasons with at least 20 home runs, 21 stolen bases and 73 runs batted in, taking home the National League Silver Slugger award for shortstops all three years.

His numbers dipped a bit last season, but he is still considered an offensive upgrade over the 12 different left fielders Texas used in 2015.

Desmond had declined the Nationals’ qualifying offer of $15.8 million last winter, and in 2014 he reportedly turned down a seven-year, $107 million contract extension.

Right-handed pitcher Tanner Scheppers was placed on the 60-day disabled list in order to accommodate Desmond on the Rangers’ 40-man roster.

As for Hamilton – who had two operations performed on his left knee last fall – he was diagnosed with inflammation and received stem cell and platelet rich plasma injections in the knee.

Stubbs Agrees to Minor-League Deal

The Rangers re-signed outfielder Drew Stubbs on Saturday to a minor-league contract that includes an invitation to big-league camp in Arizona.

Stubbs, 31, appeared in 27 games for Texas last season after he was released by Colorado in mid-August.

The University of Texas product was used mainly as a late-inning defensive replacement last year, and he could have the upper hand for a backup role this spring because of his ability to play center field.

All Players Now Under Contract

The ballclub wrapped up its offseason contract negotiations this week when it signed right-hander Nick Martinez and left-handers Alex Claudio and Yohander Mendez to one-year deals.

Last weekend the team had agreed to terms with 17 other pre-arbitration eligible players: infielders Hanser Alberto, Joey Gallo, Pat Kivlehan and Rougned Odor; outfielders Delino DeShields, Nomar Mazara and Ryan Rua; and pitchers Sam Dyson, Andrew Faulkner, Sam Freeman, Chi Chi Gonzalez, Luke Jackson, Keone Kela, Phil Klein, Jose Leclerc, Anthony Ranaudo and Connor Sadzeck.

Rangers Notes: DeShields Earns Texas Rookie Honors

Delino DeShields stole 25 bases for Texas last season while leading the ballclub with 10 triples.

Outfielder Delino DeShields was named the 2015 Texas Rangers Rookie of the Year by the Dallas-Fort Worth chapter of the BBWAA, wrapping up a breakthrough campaign in which he emerged as an everyday player and helped spark the top of the lineup.

Acquired last winter as a Rule 5 Draft pick from Houston, DeShields started the season on the bench behind incumbent center fielder Leonys Martin. By the beginning of May, however, Martin’s playing time had become more sporadic, and DeShields saw his batting average climb as he received more starts.

Martin made what turned out to be his final start in a Texas uniform on Aug. 2, and he had just one more at-bat the rest of the season.

DeShields, meanwhile, saw action in a total of 121 games for the American League West champion Rangers, hitting .261 with 25 stolen bases, 22 doubles and a team-high 10 triples.

He also drove in 37 runs and showed terrific plate discipline by drawing 53 walks, the most by an A.L. rookie last year and trailing only National League rookies Joc Pederson (101) and Kris Bryant (77).

Other than a mid-summer stint on the disabled list with a strained hamstring, the 23-year-old DeShields spent the bulk of the season as Texas’ regular leadoff batter, allowing Shin-Soo Choo to move further down in the lineup.

Mazara Headlines Roster Additions

The Rangers added four players to their 40-man roster Nov. 20 – outfielder Nomar Mazara and three pitchers – in order to protect them from the upcoming Rule 5 Draft.

Mazara is considered to be the team’s top minor-league prospect after Joey Gallo reached the majors last summer while Jorge Alfaro and Jake Thompson were traded to Philadelphia.

Joining Mazara as first-time 40-man roster additions were left-hander Yohander Mendez and righties Jose Leclerc and Connor Sadzeck.

Texas also traded right-hander Spencer Patton to the Chicago Cubs in exchange for 19-year-old middle infielder Frandy Delarosa.

Profar, Brinson Named to All-AFL Squad

Former top prospect Jurickson Profar was one of two players from the Rangers’ system selected for the All-Arizona Fall League Team by MLB, along with 21-year-old outfielder Lewis Brinson.

Profar was in line to succeed Ian Kinsler at second base when Texas traded Kinsler to Detroit, but he spent much of the last two seasons coming back from a right shoulder injury instead.

Limited to designated hitter duties in the AFL, Profar hit .267 across 20 games for the Surprise Saguaros with six doubles and 20 runs batted in.

Brinson, who was the Rangers’ first-round pick in the 2012 draft, batted .300 for Surprise and connected for three triples with five stolen bases.

Gimenez Signed; Jones, Tepesch Non-Tendered

The Rangers and catcher Chris Gimenez agreed to a one-year, $975,000 contract this week while outfielder James Jones and right-hander Nick Tepesch were non-tendered by the ballclub, thus becoming free agents.

The 32-year-old Gimenez spent the first four months of last season at Triple-A Round Rock, but he joined the big-league club down the stretch when Carlos Corporan went down with a bruised thumb.

In another roster move, third baseman/outfielder Patrick Kivlehan was acquired from Seattle to complete the November trade that sent Leonys Martin to the Mariners.