The Rangers have cleared some space on the roster with spring training just a couple of months away.
Texas will not tender 2018 contract offers to right-handed pitchers Chi Chi Gonzalez, A.J. Griffin and Nick Martinez, along with infielder Hanser Alberto.
Gonzalez missed the entire 2017 season with an ulner collateral ligament tear in his pitching elbow and underwent Tommy John surgery in July. Once considered a top prospect with a future as a starter, Gonzalez struggled at times in Arlington. He was 4-8 with a 4.54 ERA in 2015 and 2016 as both a starter and reliever with the Rangers.
Griffin was a reclamation project that the Rangers took a flyer on after being released by the Oakland A’s after the 2015 season. He was signed to a minor league contract right before Christmas of that year. Griffin got off to a hot start last season but missed a large chunk of time with an oblique injury. He struggled upon his return; finishing 6-6 with a 5.94 ERA in 18 games, 15 of those were starts.
Nick Martinez logged plenty of mileage up and down I-35 between Arlington and Round Rock, home of the Triple-A Round Rock Express. He had four different stints with the Rangers this season, going 3-8 with a 5.66 ERA in 23 games as both a starter and coming out of the bullpen.
Alberto spent all of last season on the disabled list with right shoulder problems and had rotator cuff surgery in June. Of course, Alberto will always have a spot in the hearts of Rangers Nation with his go-ahead single in the 2015 ALDS Game 2 win over the Toronto Blue Jays.
With today’s movements, the Rangers now have 35 players on the major league roster.
