Former Texas Rangers closer Shawn Tolleson has been granted free agency after declining an outright minor league assignment.
The move Thursday came a day after the Rangers announced that Tolleson had cleared outright waivers and would be assigned to Triple-A Round Rock.
Tolleson was 2-2 with 11 saves and a 7.68 ERA in 37 relief appearances this year. The 28-year-old right-hander had 35 saves in 2015, and 11 more this season, but lost the closer job to Sam Dyson after blowing saves in consecutive appearances in mid-May.
After time away from the team to be with his father, who was dealing with cancer, Tolleson later was sent to the minors.
He missed the rest of the season after going on the 60-day disabled list because of a lower back sprain.
