Jones Wins Final Roster Spot

As of Wednesday morning, most of the looming questions entering Rangers’ Spring Training had been answered.
 
The rotation, the bullpen and 24 members of the 25-man roster had been decided. Jarrod Saltalamacchia is your Opening Day catcher. Elvis Andrus looks to be adjusting well to life in the Major Leagues. Josh Hamilton will start in center field. Nelson Cruz will take over the clean-up spot in the lineup.
 
The only question to be answered in Surprise, Ariz.,  it seemed, was who would get the 25th spot on the roster, and be on the bench when the Rangers open the season against Cleveland on April 6.
 
But Texas gave its answer on Wednesday night, when they placed Frank Catalanotto on waivers, succinctly giving the final spot on the roster to Andruw Jones.
 
Jones could have opted out of his contract in mid-March due to a clause in his contract, but decided to stay with the team. The 31 year-old is hitting .293 in 58 at-bats this spring, with 3 home runs and a .552 slugging percentage; he has however, somewhat predictably, struck out 19 times and walked only thrice.
 
If Jones wasn’t a lock for the 25th spot before Wednesday, his performance, no doubt, supported his case; the 10-time Gold Glover hit a tie-breaking home run in the ninth to give the Rangers a 5-4 win over the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (or whatever they’re calling themselves this year).
 
Jones will join Marlon Byrd, David Murphy, Josh Hamilton and Nelson Cruz in a talented Rangers outfield corps.
 
Catalanotto will leave Texas for the second time in his career, the first in the winter of 2003 after three seasons in Arlington; he originally came over in the deal that sent Juan Gonzalez to Detroit. The 34 year-old is a career .292 hitter.
 
Wunderkind lefty Derek Holland, who got the win on Wednesday, was assigned to triple-A Oklahoma shortly thereafter, along with Brandon Boggs, Joaquin Arias and Doug Mathis.
 
Texas will play its last Cactus League game on Thursday, against the Royals, before heading back to Texas. Newly-assigned reliever Scott Feldman will get the start for the Rangers.