Texas Rangers

The Texas Rangers have reportedly made Lance Lynn available in trade talks as the starter heads into the final year of his contract.

Jon Heyman of MLB Network reported Monday that the Rangers have been shopping Lynn, which came after significant rumors ahead of last season's trade deadline.

Lynn will make a base salary of just $8 million in 2021, a bargain-basement deal for his level of performance.

The righty went 6-3 with a 3.32 ERA and 1.06 WHIP, striking out 89 batters in 84 innings pitched in 2020. He finished sixth in the AL Cy Young voting despite the Rangers finishing with the second-worst record in baseball.

The Rangers are not expected to compete for a division championship in 2021, which would create an even greater incentive to move Lynn. Given his recent level of performance, Lynn stands to earn a massive contract next winter—one the Rangers may not want to pay once he hits the open market.

If Texas can find a team in win-now mode willing to give up young prospects in exchange for Lynn, it's something it will have to consider.

The New York Yankees, who traded for Lynn in 2018, may consider a similar move ahead of his free agency. Lynn was solid during his nine-start run in pinstripes and could be a solid rotation piece behind Gerrit Cole, provided the Yankees don't fill out their rotation in free agency.    

Corey Kluber will be a free agent for the first time in his career after the Texas Rangers declined his option for the 2021 season. 

The 34-year-old would have earned $18 million if his option had been exercised. 

The Rangers acquired Kluber from the Cleveland Indians in December with the hopes he would be able to stabilize their rotation behind Mike Minor. He was coming off an injury-plagued 2019 in which he posted a 5.80 ERA and 1.654 WHIP over seven starts. 

However, his 2020 season was over almost as soon as it got started, when he was removed from his first start on July 26 after one inning with tightness in his right shoulder. 

The Rangers announced Kluber was being shut down for four weeks with a Grade 2 tear of the teres major muscle in his right shoulder. He didn't have to undergo surgery, but the shortened 60-game season meant he wouldn't have enough time to get back on the mound. 

When he was at his best from 2014-18, he was one of the most dominant pitchers in Major League Baseball. The Alabama native won two Cy Young Awards in 2014 and 2017 and made three straight All-Star teams from 2016-18, posting a 2.85 ERA in 160 starts during that span. 

Given his age and recent injury history, Kluber seemed likely to become a free agent. He will likely receive short-term offers with a lot of incentives for teams to protect themselves in case he gets hurt again, but the upside is huge if he can regain that previous form. 

Texas Rangers infielder Isiah Kiner-Falefa has offered some details on the steps Major League Baseball is taking to ensuring players are following protocols during the coronavirus pandemic.

Appearing on 105.3 The Fan (h/t Josh Clark of Radio.com), Kiner-Falefa said road trips are "almost like prison" with all of the ways players are restricted in their hotels:

"MLB actually has someone just walking around the hotel to make sure we don't do anything. Just based off previous teams and what they've done and how it affected the season. So MLB has been very strict. It's almost cooler to be at home because you can at least do a little more and have some people around. But when you're on the road it's almost like prison. You can't leave your room. Even if you go down to the lobby (you'll get in trouble). I think for us this year, the physical part's been okay, but mentally it's starting to wear on a lot of people. (I'm) just curious how far this can go on."

After a COVID-19 outbreak involving the Miami Marlins in which 21 members of the organization tested positive, MLB made significant changes to its health and safety protocols.

Per CNN's Jill Martin and Cesar Marin, the changes included lowering the size of traveling parties with teams, requiring players and staffers to wear masks on the road and prohibiting meetings between players and team staffers in hotel rooms without prior approval. 

The St. Louis Cardinals also had a COVID-19 outbreak that prevented them from playing games from July 30-Aug. 15. MLB adjusted their schedule to fit 53 games into 43 days, including nine doubleheaders. 

As part of MLB's attempt to reduce travel, teams are only playing within their division and the opposite league’s corresponding geographical division. 

MLB's 60-game regular season is scheduled to end on Sept. 27. 

The Texas Rangers reportedly placed second baseman Rougned Odor on the injured list because of an eye infection.

TR Sullivan of MLB.com reported the news Monday. The team also activated shortstop Elvis Andrus, per Sullivan.

When healthy, Odor is an important power bat in the Rangers' lineup, especially at a second base position that isn't known for producing sluggers across the league. He drilled 33 home runs in 2016 and 30 in 2017 before slashing .205/.283/.439 with 30 home runs and 93 RBI in 2019.

The 26-year-old played 145 games last season, which was the fifth time in six years he appeared in 150 or less games. 

He has followed up with a .150/.198/.288 slash line, three home runs and 10 RBI in 24 games in 2020.

Look for Texas to turn toward Nick Solak or Derek Dietrich at second base while the starter is sidelined.

They can both play multiple positions, giving the Rangers additional options for the lineup even with Odor out.

The Texas Rangers apparently "hold the keys to the deadline."

That is what one general manager told ESPN's Jeff Passan, who reported the Rangers "have been discussing outfielder Joey Gallo in potential trades." Passan also noted the American League West team is exploring trading starting pitcher Lance Lynn while pointing out the price on both potential players is "high."

Neither Lynn nor Gallo would be a pure rental for whichever team traded for them.

Gallo is under contract through 2022, while Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reported the team is "entertaining trade offers for Lynn...even though he is under contract at a bargain rate of $8 million next season and is an important part of the team's identity."

Per Rosenthal, the San Diego Padres and Tampa Bay Rays are interested in Gallo.

Rosenthal also pointed out "if not for the financial uncertainty created by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Rangers might be talking about an extension" when it comes to Lynn.

Lynn has been brilliant this season with a 1.93 ERA, 0.92 WHIP and 56 strikeouts in 51.1 innings. While he would be a significant loss for the Rangers, trading him now could be a way to sell high and maximize the return value for the 33-year-old.

Gallo was an All-Star last year and hit a combined 81 home runs in 2017 and 2018, but he has struggled from the plate this year with a .188/.339/.436 slash line, seven home runs and 16 RBI.

Still, he is just 26 years old and could also bring back a notable return package for Texas in a potential deal.

The Rangers are just 12-20 and nine games back of the Oakland Athletics and 6.5 games out of second place in the American League West, so moving some of their key pieces could help them rebuild with an eye on the future in what is shaping up to be a lost season.

Texas Rangers pitcher Ian Gibaut has been suspended three games for throwing at San Diego Padres hitter Manny Machado in the eighth inning of Monday's game, per Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune.

Rangers manager Chris Woodward has also been suspended one game. Gibaut is appealing his suspension while Woodward has accepted his and will serve it Tuesday. 

The incident came as a result of actions from Fernando Tatis Jr., who swung at a 3-0 pitch with the bases loaded and hit a grand slam. The score was already 10-3 in the eighth inning but Tatis made it a true blowout.

Gibaut entered the game for the next batter and threw his first pitch behind Machado, although it didn't hit him. The third baseman eventually grounded out to end the at-bat.

Woodward was clearly upset by Tatis swinging at a 3-0 pitch when discussing the situation after the game, via AJ Cassavell of MLB.com:

"There's a lot of unwritten rules that are constantly being challenged in today's game. I didn't like it, personally. You're up by seven [runs] in the eighth inning; it's typically not a good time to swing 3-0. It's kind of the way we were all raised in the game. But, like I said, the norms are being challenged on a daily basis, so -- just because I don't like it doesn't mean it's not right."

Tatis apologized after the game, adding, "probably next time, I'll take a pitch."

MLB still sent a message by penalizing a pitcher trying to enforce the "unwritten rules" of the game.

It follows Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Joe Kelly, who was suspended eight games for throwing at a Houston Astros player and taunting another in an action that led to benches being cleared. Like with Gibaut, no one was hit by a pitch.

The Texas Rangers are citing the unwritten rules of baseball to justify their unhappiness after Fernando Tatis Jr. hit an eighth-inning grand slam in the San Diego Padres' 14-4 win on Monday night.

Rangers manager Chris Woodward told reporters after the game he "didn't like" Tatis going for a home run by swinging on a 3-0 pitch. 

"You're up by seven in the eighth inning; it's typically not a good time [to swing] 3-0," Woodward said. "It's kind of the way we were all raised in the game. But ... the norms are being challenged."

Woodward appeared on the Ben & Woods show and said he spoke with members of the Padres after the game (2:10 mark of the audio). Woodward also mentioned that he's "one of the biggest advocates" of swinging at a pitch during a 3-0 count because it's "the best pitch in baseball to hit and that's been proven" (4:30 mark of audio).

Holding a 10-3 lead in the top of the eighth, Tatis swung at a 3-0 fastball from Juan Nicasio that landed in the right field seats.

Per MLB.com's AJ Cassavell, Tatis was given a take sign from Padres third base coach Glenn Hoffman that he didn't notice.

"I was locked in on the game, just trying to produce for my team," Tatis said. "That was on me. I didn't look to my third base coach. I was just trying to take a good pitch and put my barrel on it."

Padres manager Jayce Tingler said afterward he did talk with his young shortstop about making sure he is paying attention to signs.

"He's young, a free spirit and focused and all those things," Tingler said. "That's the last thing that we'll ever take away. But it's a learning opportunity."

Ian Gibaut, who relieved Nicasio immediately after Tatis' homer, threw his first pitch behind Manny Machado. The umpires convened to discuss the situation, but there were no ejections or warnings for either side.

Tatis leads Major League Baseball in homers (11) and RBI (28). He homered twice Monday and had seven RBI.

Texas Rangers pitcher Corey Kluber will be "shut down from throwing for a minimum of 4 weeks" after an MRI determined he had a grade 2 tear in his right shoulder, the team announced Monday. 

He will be placed on the injured list Monday.

Kluber was pulled from his first start with the Rangers after just one inning Sunday. In his Texas debut, the two-time Cy Young winner struck out one and walked one against the Colorado Rockies before exiting with tightness in the back of his right shoulder. 

The team wanted to further evaluate the 34-year-old before determining his status moving forward, but now it's clear he will miss more time. 

Texas acquired Kluber from Cleveland in December for Delino DeShields and Emmanuel Clase, adding more depth to a rotation that features Mike Minor, Lance Lynn, Kyle Gibson and Jordan Lyles.

As the Rangers seek their first postseason appearance since 2016, Kluber was thought to be one of the arms who powered them through the American League West. 

That may still be the case going forward. He has one year left on his current contract before he hits free agency in 2022. Until then, he has to prove he's not only able to stay healthy going forward but also dominate enough to retain his top-of-the-rotation role. 

Kluber missed most of 2019 with a right arm fracture and hasn't looked the same since, finishing the season with a 5.80 ERA in seven starts. 

Texas Rangers starting pitcher Corey Kluber exited Sunday's game after one inning of work against the Colorado Rockies.

John Blake, the Rangers' executive vice president of communications, announced Kluber was experiencing tightness in the back of his right shoulder. He'll be evaluated further on Monday.

The man nicknamed "Klubot" played for the Cleveland Indians from 2011-2019, winning the American League Cy Young award twice. He paced the league with a 2.25 ERA and 0.87 WHIP in 2017 and struck out an average of 246 batters per year from 2014-2018.

Kluber also won 20 games for the first time in his career in 2018.

He was off to an unusually slow start in 2019 after going 2-3 with a 5.80 ERA over seven starts. Per FanGraphs, his walk rate jumped from 4 percent to 8.9 percent, and he allowed a career-high 37.5 percent hard hit rate.

Unfortunately, Kluber's 2019 season ended on May 1 after he suffered a fractured right arm against the Miami Marlins when a Brian Anderson line drive struck him.

He made a few rehab starts in the minor leagues but was shut down for the year after suffering abdominal tightness during his third minor league start on August 18.

Kluber was traded to the Rangers on Dec. 18 for Delino DeShields and Emmanuel Clase.

Joe Palumbo replaced Kluber on Sunday and figures to be one of the potential replacements for the right-hander should he have to miss a start. Kolby Allard, who made nine starts in the majors in 2019, will be another option as well.

Texas Rangers outfielder Joey Gallo tested positive twice for COVID-19, but the power-hitting 26-year-old said he's unsure if he had the disease.

"I wish I had an answer," he said Saturday per the Associated Press. "I don't know. I really don't know."

Gallo said he was asymptomatic and also tested negative twice. The AP provided his testing timeline as well as an update on his Rangers' summer camp status.

"The 26-year-old All-Star slugger missed the first week of the Rangers summer camp and isolated from teammates for two weeks after two positive tests that sandwiched a negative result during intake testing. He had two negative tests on his own outside of the MLB testing program, but wasn't cleared to join the team until consecutive negative tests under the protocol."

The saliva tests were positive, but a swab test was negative, per the AP, who also noted that Gallo "planned to have a more extensive antibody test to be sure after a finger-prick test didn't indicate that he had COVID-19 at any point."

Numerous Rangers players and staff members have tested positive for COVID-19. Pitcher Brett Martin tested positive earlier in July, per Jeff Wilson of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. General manager Jon Daniels said that other players in the organization had tested positive but did not reveal their identities or whether they were major or minor leaguers.

ESPN's Jeff Passan reported June 26 that a number of Rangers team employees had also tested positive.

Gallo and the Rangers are scheduled to begin the 2020 MLB season on July 24 against the Colorado Rockies. The season was delayed four months and shortened to 60 games because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Gallo, who had 81 total home runs over the 2017 and 2018 season, hit 22 more in 2019 in an injury-shortened campaign that held him to 70 games.