Rangers Notes: Beltre Earns Gold Glove, Silver Slugger Awards

Adrian Beltre committed just 11 errors while handling 312 total chances at third base for the Rangers this year.

Texas third baseman Adrian Beltre was recognized for his contributions in the field and in the lineup this season, picking up his third career Gold Glove award late Tuesday before receiving his second consecutive Silver Slugger award on Wednesday.

The 32-year-old Beltre hit .296 with 32 home runs, 33 doubles and 105 RBIs in 2011, when he also ranked third in the American League with a .561 slugging percentage.

A two-time All-Star, Beltre had previously won back-to-back Gold Glove awards with the Mariners in 2007-08, and he had earned Silver Slugger awards with both the Dodgers (’04) and the Red Sox (’10). The Dominican native joins Buddy Bell as the only Texas third basemen to win Gold Glove and Silver Slugger awards in the same season. Bell accomplished the feat in 1984, when he – like Beltre – was 32 years old.

Texas Locks Up Lewis, Tateyama for 2012

The Rangers exercised the contract options for right-handed pitchers Colby Lewis and Yoshinori Tateyama on Monday, securing the rights to their services for the upcoming 2012 season.

Lewis, 32, has been one of Texas’s most consistent starters over the last two years, racking up a total of 26 wins and 365 strikeouts while averaging just over 200 innings per season.

A 1999 draft pick by the Rangers, Lewis spent two years with the Hiroshima Carp in Japan before returning to Texas for the 2010 campaign. Across eight postseason starts, he has an impressive 4-1 record with an earned run average of 2.34 in 50 innings pitched.

The 35-year-old Tateyama, meanwhile, went 2-0 with a 4.50 ERA over 39 appearances for the Rangers in 2011, posting the eighth-best strikeout-to-walk-ratio (3.91) in the American League.

Tateyama had also spent time pitching in his native Japan prior to signing with Texas last November. In 2010, he put together a career-best ERA of 1.80 in 58 games for the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters of the Japanese Pacific League.

Roster Trimmed with Minor Moves

The Rangers cleared a total of six spots on their 40-man roster Wednesday, losing right-hander Darren O’Day to Baltimore on a waiver claim and outrighting five others who successfully passed through waivers.

The 29-year-old O’Day made only 16 regular-season appearances because of a partial tear of his left hip labrum – which required surgery in late April – and he was not on the roster for any of Texas’s three playoff rounds. In 2010, O’Day led the Rangers in appearances (72) while posting a record of 6-3 and a solid 2.03 earned run average.

Also Wednesday, the club outrighted five players off its 40-man roster – right-handed pitchers Omar Beltre, Eric Hurley and Merkin Valdez and infielders Andres Blanco and Esteban German.

Wednesday’s moves leave Texas with 32 players on its current 40-man roster.

Rangers Notes: Home Runs Lead Texas to Series Win

Adrian Beltre batted .308 (4-for-13) with two home runs and four RBIs over the weekend as Texas took two of three games from the Baltimore Orioles.

Following a scheduled off day Thursday and an unplanned rainout in Baltimore on Friday, the Rangers got back to action by splitting a doubleheader Saturday at Camden Yards and shutting out the Orioles on Sunday to win the series.

In the first game of Saturday’s doubleheader, right-hander Colby Lewis found himself in an early hole when Baltimore outfielder Nick Markakis and third baseman Mark Reynolds each homered in the first two innings to help the O’s take a 4-0 lead on their way to a 5-0 win.

But Texas rebounded in a big way with a 13-1 pounding of Baltimore pitching in the second game, with every Rangers starter except David Murphy contributing at least one hit – and even Murphy worked two walks.

Third baseman Adrian Beltre went 3-for-5 with a double, a home run and three runs scored while Nelson Cruz hit his fifth homer of the year and drove in four runs. Mike Napoli, who played first base in the first game and caught the nightcap, went 2-for-4 with a solo home run.

On the mound, left-hander Matt Harrison posted his second consecutive strong outing this month, allowing just one run on two hits with three strikeouts over seven innings pitched. Harrison picked up the win to improve his record to 2-0 with a 1.29 ERA through two starts.

Left-hander Derek Holland followed Sunday with six strikeouts across six shutout innings as the Rangers beat the Orioles, 3-0, to win the three-game series and push their season record to a league-best 8-1.

Beltre homered for the second game in a row while Ian Kinsler clubbed his fourth home run of the year, a two-run shot in the seventh off Baltimore reliever Jim Johnson. Beltre went 4-for-13 and drove in four runs during the three-game series, though his season batting average is still just .189.

Holland was followed by left-hander Darren Oliver and right-handers Darren O’Day and Neftali Feliz, who combined to hold the Orioles scoreless over the final three innings and preserve the victory. Feliz came on with two outs in the eighth and finished the game to notch his third save of the year.

Texas will take its 8-1 record into a three-game series against the Tigers in Detroit, with midday starting times scheduled for Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.

Aguero, Corpas Signed to Minor League Deals

Although the Rangers and Orioles had the opener of their series postponed due to rainy weather Friday in Baltimore, Texas kept busy by acquiring two right-handed pitchers who had spent their entire careers in the National League to this point.

Ramon Aguero, 26, was claimed off waivers from the Pittsburgh Pirates and assigned to Triple-A Round Rock. In order to clear a spot for him on the 40-man roster, the Rangers transferred right-hander Omar Beltre from the 15- to the 60-day disabled list.

Aguero, who was designated for assignment by the Pirates on Mar. 31, spent the last five years in the Pittsburgh organization, though never above Double-A. In 103 professional appearances (including 30 starts), Aguero has posted a record of 11-22 with a 4.14 earned run average.

Texas also signed former Rockies reliever Manny Corpas to a minor league contract Friday, though he is recovering from Tommy John surgery and is not expected to contribute this season.

Corpas, 28, appeared in 280 games for Colorado over the last five years, compiling a 12-16 record with a 3.93 ERA and 34 saves. As the Rockies’ primary closer during their World Series run in 2007, Corpas set career highs with 78 appearances, 58 strikeouts, 19 saves and four wins, then added five more saves in the postseason.

Rangers Notes: Cactus League Wrap-Up

Mitch Moreland, who batted .403 this spring with 15 RBIs, hits one of his team-leading nine doubles on Mar. 11 against the Reds.

The Rangers wrapped up their 2011 Cactus League schedule on Monday with a 6-4 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks in Scottsdale, finishing the spring with a record of 13-16-1.

First baseman Mitch Moreland hit .403 with four home runs, nine doubles and 15 runs batted in while catcher Yorvit Torrealba led the club with a .414 spring batting average.

Infielders Chris Davis and Ian Kinsler each clubbed five home runs, Michael Young batted a solid .380 with four doubles and two triples, and outfielder Julio Borbon hit .339 with five stolen bases in six attempts.

Following a pair of exhibitions in Myrtle Beach and Round Rock, the Rangers made a handful of moves Thursday to finalize the active roster ahead of Friday’s season opener against Boston.

Texas purchased the contract of right-hander Dave Bush, who was a non-roster invitee in spring training but will open the season in the Texas bullpen, from Triple-A Round Rock.

Another veteran right-hander, Brett Tomko, was reassigned to Triple-A while three more players – Davis, outfielder Craig Gentry and catcher Taylor Teagarden – were optioned to Round Rock as well.

In addition, the Rangers placed four right-handed pitchers on the 15-day disabled list – Omar Beltre, Scott Feldman, Tommy Hunter and Brandon Webb.

Ogando to Start for Hunter

It was announced Wednesday that right-hander Alexi Ogando will start in place of Hunter next Monday against Seattle, likely matching up with Mariners left-hander Erik Bedard in the game.

Ogando, who had been stretched out early in spring training but was told last week that he would remain in the bullpen, became one of the leading candidates for the open rotation spot when it was revealed that Hunter would miss at least six weeks with a right groin strain.

Last year, Ogando went 4-1 across 44 relief appearances and posted an ERA of 1.30 during the regular season, then struck out eight batters with a 1.50 ERA in five playoff and World Series games.

Texas Signs Infielder Cruz

Infielder Luis Cruz, who had been outrighted off Milwaukee’s 40-man roster earlier this week, was signed by the Rangers to a minor-league deal Wednesday and assigned to Triple-A Round Rock.

Cruz, 27, has a career batting average of .221 in limited action with the Pirates and Brewers over the last three seasons.

Rangers Notes: Texas Drops Exhibition Opener, 4-2

Yoshinori Tateyama gave up a hit and a walk in his Rangers debut on Sunday but held on to pitch a scoreless seventh inning against Kansas City.

The Rangers opened their 2011 Cactus League schedule on Sunday with a 4-2 loss to the Kansas City Royals at Surprise Stadium in Arizona, though the game did provide some bright spots for Texas.

Left-hander C.J. Wilson and right-hander Dave Bush, who is trying to earn a role at the back end of the rotation, combined to give up two earned runs on four hits over the first four innings.

Wilson and Bush were followed on the mound by a succession of right-handers for one inning apiece – Mark Lowe, Tanner Scheppers, Yoshinori Tateyama, Ryan Tucker and Pedro Strop – who held the Royals to just one unearned run the rest of the way.

Outfielder Doug Deeds hit a two-run homer off Royals right-hander Louis Coleman in the sixth inning to provide the Rangers with their only scoring of the afternoon.

Defensively, errors by third baseman Michael Young and center fielder Julio Borbon each allowed a run to score, though Borbon did contribute with a double off left-hander Bruce Chen in the sixth.

Beltre Sidelined with Calf Injury

Newly-acquired third baseman Adrian Beltre could miss anywhere from two weeks to a month with a Grade 1 strain in his right calf, it was announced Friday.

While initial reports said he would miss 10 to 14 days, Jon Heyman of SI.com said on Saturday (via Twitter) that he “heard [Beltre] could be out a month,” which would put his status in doubt for the season opener on Apr.1.

After hitting .321 with 28 home runs and a league-leading 49 doubles for Boston last season, the 31-year-old Beltre signed a six-year deal with the Rangers in January worth $96 million.

Kinsler Set to Bat Leadoff

On Saturday, manager Ron Washington announced his plans to have second baseman Ian Kinsler bat leadoff this season while dropping shortstop Elvis Andrus – who spent much of last year as the leadoff hitter – to second in the lineup.

Meanwhile, designated hitter Michael Young will move from No. 2 in the batting order down to Kinsler’s old slot at No. 6, and Adrian Beltre should fill the cleanup spot (No. 4) left vacant by the departure of Vladimir Guerrero.

Like last season, outfielders Josh Hamilton, Nelson Cruz and Julio Borbon are expected to bat third, fifth and ninth, respectively, although the lineup would likely be altered on days when David Murphy starts in the outfield.

Seven More Players Agree to Terms

The Rangers announced Saturday that they had agreed to salary terms with six of the seven pre-arbitration eligible players on their roster who were not under contract for the upcoming season, including All-Star shortstop Elvis Andrus and right-handed reliever Alexi Ogando.

Andrus, the team leader with 32 stolen bases and 64 walks last year, is set to make $452,180 this season while Ogando, who emerged as a key bullpen component down the stretch in 2010, has agreed to a salary of $430,150.

Also agreeing to terms on Saturday were infielder Andres Blanco ($520,000), outfielder Craig Gentry ($416,000), and right-handers Omar Beltre and Eric Hurley ($415,000 each).

The only player not to agree to salary terms Saturday was right-hander Pedro Strop, though he signed a one-year deal on Sunday worth $416,000, according to Richard Durrett of ESPN Dallas.

Rangers Notes: Camp Opens with Questions, Ailments

Rangers pitchers and catchers take the field Wednesday at the team’s spring training complex.

Pitchers and catchers reported to the Rangers’ spring training site in Surprise, Ariz., on Wednesday, and the first day of camp brought the first injury reports of the 2011 season.

Right-handed pitcher Omar Beltre, who made his major-league debut with Texas last summer, is scheduled to have surgery on Tuesday to repair a genetic condition called spinal stenosis, which results in a narrowing of the spine.

Beltre, 29, will require up to eight weeks of rehab following the surgery before he can return to baseball activities, and the Rangers have no timetable for him beyond that point.

In two starts at the big-league level last season, Beltre posted a record of 0-1 and was roughed up for seven earned runs on nine hits in seven innings pitched. He fared better in 24 games at Triple-A Oklahoma City, where he had a 2.65 earned run average across 85 innings.

Right-hander Scott Feldman, meanwhile, underwent microfracture surgery on his right knee in November and is not expected to be ready to pitch before Opening Day.

After leading the club with 17 wins in 2009, Feldman regressed last year and finished the season with a 7-11 record and an ERA of 5.48, uncorking a team-high 11 wild pitches along the way.

And right-hander Fabio Castillo arrived in Arizona wearing a walking boot on his left foot to protect a fractured bone. The team is awaiting the results of X-rays taken this week before deciding whether or not Castillo will require surgery.

Young to Report Saturday

While the team continues to entertain trade proposals for him, infielder Michael Young plans to report to spring training with the rest of the Rangers’ position players on Saturday, according to Tim Brown of Yahoo! Sports.

Young, 34, asked to be traded earlier this month after he said he was “misled and manipulated,” adding “I got pushed into a corner one too many times. I couldn’t take it anymore.”

A handful of teams have shown more than a passing interest in the six-time All-Star, but Young’s $16 million annual salary over the next three years has been a deterrent for many potential suitors.

Eight Agree to Terms

The Rangers announced Thursday that the club has agreed to contract terms with eight pre-arbitration players for the upcoming season.

Chief among the signees is right-handed pitcher Neftali Feliz, who recorded 40 saves last season on his way to winning the American League Rookie of the Year award.

Outfielder Julio Borbon, who rebounded from an early-season struggle at the plate to bat .276 last year, also agreed to terms.

Other players to sign on Thursday include outfielder Engel Beltre, right-hander Mason Tobin, and left-handers Miguel De Los Santos, Derek Holland, Michael Kirkman and Zach Phillips.