Rangers Notes: Cactus League Update No. 3

Nick Tepesch is one of several candidates for the fifth spot in the Texas rotation, and nobody has been able to separate themselves from the pack.

It has been more than a month since pitchers and catchers reported to Surprise, Ariz., but the Rangers appear to be no closer to solidifying the fifth starter’s spot than they were when camp began.

Following the top four of Cole Hamels (who will be the Opening Day starter for Texas on Apr. 4), Derek Holland, Colby Lewis and Martin Perez, a slew of contenders have endured some rocky spring outings in their quest for the final rotation spot.

Non-roster invitees A.J. Griffin and Jeremy Guthrie may have had an early edge because of their past major-league success, but both have Cactus League ERAs over 5.00 and gave up multiple home runs in their most recent appearances.

Also in the mix are Chi Chi Gonzalez, Nick Martinez and Nick Tepesch, all right-handers who have spent their entire professional careers in the Rangers’ organization. Their spring performances have left much to be desired, as the trio has combined to allow 32 earned runs across 31 innings pitched.

Thirty-one-year-old southpaw Cesar Ramos has received consideration as well, although he is thought to be a long shot as he has made just 10 career major-league starts (versus 241 relief appearances).

With two weeks left until Texas opens its season against Seattle, the team brass is hopeful that a strong candidate will emerge to claim the fifth spot.

“I am confident we will field a rotation that we feel good about,” general manager Jon Daniels said. “If we have to make adjustments, we will. We did last year. If you look at our rotation [in 2015] from start to finish, it was drastically different.”

One of the biggest projected strengths of the Rangers is their bullpen, and newcomer Tony Barnette has put himself in good position to earn one of the roles still up for grabs.

The hard-throwing right-hander – who is seeking to become just the 12th Alaska-born player to reach the major leagues – has racked up 10 strikeouts (against no walks) across seven Cactus League innings of work.

Free-agent signee Ian Desmond has put together a solid spring while making the switch from shortstop to left field, and he has even logged some innings in center field. Desmond is batting a robust .397 with two doubles and five runs scored in his 12 games for Texas.

Hanser Alberto and Pedro Ciriaco are the two primary contenders for the backup infielder’s role, and catchers Chris Gimenez, Michael McKenry and Bobby Wilson are engaged in a similar battle for playing time behind starter Robinson Chirinos.

Top Prospects Sent to Minors

The Rangers trimmed their spring training roster by nine players on Monday with a series of cuts that included top prospects Joey Gallo, Nomar Mazara and Jurickson Profar.

Those three – along with pitchers Alex Claudio and Anthony Ranaudo – were optioned to Triple-A Round Rock while outfielders Lewis Brinson and Ryan Cordell, infielder Drew Robinson and right-hander Francisco Mendoza were assigned to minor-league camp.

Gallo and Mazara both posted impressive numbers this spring but would not have had an everyday role at the big-league level, and Profar did not help his case by making four errors in 54 total chances after missing the past two years due to shoulder injuries.

Darvish Progressing Well in Rehab

Although he still has not faced live hitters this spring, right-hander Yu Darvish is slowly building arm strength and continuing his throwing program as he comes back from reconstructive Tommy John surgery.

Darvish threw off a full mound late last month for the first time since his operation, and he has gradually increased his workload along with his repertoire of pitches over the past three weeks.

“He threw all his pitches, probably the best slider I’ve seen,” Texas pitching coach Doug Brocail said after a throwing session Saturday morning. “His break on [the slider] two days ago was good but not near the zone. Today it was extremely good and in the zone.”

The Rangers are hopeful that Darvish will be able to return to major-league action sometime between May and June.

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.)