Rangers Notes: Greenberg Steps Down as CEO

Chuck Greenberg’s brief stay in Texas included a bankruptcy auction and World Series appearance.

In an unexpected turn of events, the Rangers announced Friday that Chuck Greenberg – who spent several months and millions of his own dollars trying to secure partial ownership in the franchise – is resigning from his duties as the team’s CEO and managing partner.

Club president Nolan Ryan will assume Greenberg’s role as chief executive officer, and he will now oversee all baseball and business operations for the Rangers while reporting directly to the team’s Board of Directors.

“We thank Chuck for his many contributions to the organization, and wish him well in his future endeavors,” said Ray Davis and Bob Simpson, Co-Chairmen of Rangers Baseball Express LLC, in a press release. “At the same time, we are very confident in the continued success and further development of the Texas Rangers under Nolan’s leadership.”

Greenberg’s departure comes less than seven months after he led a group of investors – including Ryan – that submitted the winning bid to purchase the ballclub at a bankruptcy court auction late last summer.

Since then, he had become a popular public face for the Rangers as they marched through the American League playoffs and into the first World Series appearance in team history.

“I have great respect for the Texas Rangers franchise and am enormously proud of all we have accomplished together since August,” Greenberg said in the press release. “Unfortunately, Nolan Ryan, the Co-Chairmen, and I have somewhat different styles.

“While I am disappointed we did not work through our differences, I remain wholeheartedly committed to doing what’s right for the franchise. Together we concluded it is best for all concerned for me to sell my interest back to Rangers Baseball Express and move on.”

No specific details of the apparent falling-out were released, although according to Sports Illustrated baseball writer Jon Heyman (via Twitter), “Greenberg managed to upset a lot of people as managing partner but [his] undoing came after he upset Nolan Ryan.”

Team Makes First Roster Cuts

With less than three weeks to go until Opening Day, the Rangers on Saturday announced their first round of spring cuts while adding veteran pitcher Brett Tomko to the big-league roster.

Texas optioned four players from the 40-man roster to different levels of minor-league camp, including left-hander Zach Phillips (Triple-A Round Rock), outfielder Engel Beltre and right-hander Fabio Castillo (Double-A Frisco), and right-hander Wilmer Font (Class-A Myrtle Beach).

In addition, right-hander Brett Tomko – who signed a minor-league contract with Texas last month – was added to the team’s major-league camp as a non-roster player. Tomko, 37, missed all of the 2010 season while recovering from a nerve problem in his right arm.

Saturday’s moves leave the Rangers with a total of 52 players on their big-league spring training roster, including 36 on the 40-man roster and 16 non-roster invitees.

Beltre Close to Spring Debut

Third baseman Adrian Beltre, who has been sidelined with a calf strain throughout spring training, could see his first game action as soon as Monday, according to Richard Durrett of ESPN Dallas.

Beltre, a two-time Gold Glove award winner, signed a six-year deal with the Rangers in January worth $96 million, and his presence at third is expected to shift veteran Michael Young into a designated hitter/super utility role.

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.