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: Chirinos, Others Avoid Arbitration

Barring a major injury or trade, Robinson Chirinos will be the team’s primary catcher this year.

Catcher Robinson Chirinos was one of four Texas players to settle their arbitration cases before last Friday’s deadline, agreeing to a one-year deal for the upcoming season worth $1.55 million.

Also signing new contracts last week were infielder Jurickson Profar ($605,000) and pitchers Tanner Scheppers ($900,000) and Tom Wilhelmsen ($3.1 million).

Chirinos was limited to 78 games in 2015 because of injuries to his right hand and left shoulder, although he led team in games caught for the second straight year while hitting 10 home runs, 16 doubles and even his first career triple.

He is expected to begin spring training as the Rangers’ starting catcher ahead of backup candidates Chris Gimenez, Michael McKenry and Bobby Wilson. Minor-leaguers Kellin Deglan and Brett Nicholas will be in big-league camp as well.

Texas was thought to have interest in free-agent catcher Matt Wieters heading into the offseason, but he eventually accepted the Orioles’ qualifying offer of $15.8 million to stay in Baltimore for another year.

One remaining possibility that could affect Chirinos’ playing time is a trade for Milwaukee’s Jonathan Lucroy, who has expressed his desire to play for a contender instead of a Brewers club that is looking to rebuild.

Any deal for Lucroy would likely require Texas to part with multiple upper-level prospects, however, and the Rangers may be hesitant to do so after dipping into their farm system to acquire Cole Hamels last summer.

With Chirinos, Profar, Scheppers and Wilhelmsen all under contract for the 2016 campaign, Texas now has three arbitration-eligible players who are still unsigned – left-hander Jake Diekman, first baseman Mitch Moreland and right-hander Shawn Tolleson.

The Rangers have not gone to arbitration with a player since beating first baseman/designated hitter Lee Stevens in a hearing in 2000.

Ciriaco Signed, Invited to Camp

Well-traveled infielder Pedro Ciriaco was signed last Wednesday to a minor-league deal by Texas that includes an invitation to major-league camp in Arizona.

The 30-year-old Ciriaco appeared in 84 games for the Atlanta Braves last season and got starts at all four infield positions, although he served mainly as a pinch-hitter and defensive replacement.

Most of his career highs were set with the Red Sox in 2012, when he collected 15 doubles, 19 RBIs and 16 stolen bases in a part-time role.

Ciriaco will enter spring training with a chance to compete for the Rangers’ utility role, which had been filled by Adam Rosales for the past two seasons.

Darvish Cleared following Gambling Probe

The younger brother of Texas starter Yu Darvish was arrested in Japan last October on illegal gambling charges, which included taking bets on both Major League Baseball and Nippon Professional Baseball games.

MLB investigated the situation and any potential involvement by Darvish, but he has now been cleared after it was determined that he had nothing to do with his brother’s activities.

Darvish, 29, is expected to return to the Rangers’ rotation this summer after having reconstructive surgery last spring and missing the entire season.

Rangers Notes: Texas Takes OF Skole with First Pick

Outfielder Jake Skole was selected by Texas with the 15th overall pick in the MLB First-Year Player Draft.

With the 15th overall pick in Monday’s First-Year Player Draft, the Rangers took outfielder Jake Skole out of Blessed Trinity High School in Roswell, Ga.

A left-handed hitter and right-handed thrower, Skole had his senior season cut short by a right ankle injury but returned to hit .452 with six home runs and 21 RBI in 14 playoff games. The two-sport star had signed a letter of intent to play football at Georgia Tech this fall, but he and the Rangers agreed to a deal worth $1.557 million on Wednesday.

Texas then selected left-handed-hitting catcher Kellin Deglan with the 22nd pick in the draft, and the club has already agreed to terms on a $1 million signing bonus with him, pending a physical. Deglan, who is from R.E. Mountain High School in Langley, British Columbia, saw his stock rise after performing well for the Canadian Junior National team.

In the Compensation A round of the draft, the team selected right-handed pitcher Luke Jackson with the 45th overall pick and took third baseman Mike Olt at No. 49. With their second-round pick (No. 72 overall), the Rangers selected right-handed pitcher Cody Buckel from Royal High School in California.

Texas selected high school players with 13 of its 29 picks on the second day of the draft, among them third baseman Steven Buechele, the son of former Rangers third baseman and current Frisco RoughRiders manager Steve Buechele. “We’re young,” club president Nolan Ryan told MLB.com. “We took a number of high school kids, but quite a few of them have a tremendous amount of upside.”