There was nothing wrong with the Texas Rangers taking a flier on first baseman/outfielder Brad Hawpe prior to spring training kicking off.
The Rangers signed Hawpe to a minor-league deal as a reclamation project. Hawpe had his days in the sun, with four straight seasons in the late 2000s of hitting more than 20 home runs and more than 80 RBIs with the Colorado Rockies.
But since undergoing Tommy John surgery, Hawpe was relegated to first base as he still can't throw from the outfield, and the Rangers are crowded at first base, especially since it appears Mitch Moreland's wrist is good to go.
Hawpe's last full season in the bigs was in 2009 as the Fort Worth native has been unable to stay healthy since then.
The Rangers reportedly have said they would have a spot for Hawpe in the minors if he can't pick up with another major-league team but someone will likely find a need for him as a backup first baseman, somewhere the Rangers just didn't need him.
