SURPRISE, Ariz. — Spring camp hasn’t reached its midway point yet, but apparently enough has transpired to leave the Texas Rangers wanting more options for their pitching staff.
They found one Wednesday, and veteran right-hander Derek Lowe will be in uniform Friday.The Rangers announced around dinnertime that they signed Lowe to a minor-league deal.A source said that Lowe will make $1.25 million if he makes the Opening Day roster and could max out at $1.7 million if he reaches all incentive bonuses.He work primarily as a reliever, but his recent history could make him a candidate to work in the rotation.Though a starter almost exclusively the past 11 seasons, the 39-year-old Lowe has experience as a reliever. He was a late-season addition by the Yankees in 2012 and posted a 3.04 ERA in 17 appearances/23.3 innings after struggling as a starter in Cleveland.“Derek gives us a versatile vetern option for the staff,” general manager Jon Daniels said. “He threw well last year in New York out of the pen.”Olt scratchedMike Olt was supposed to make his first start of the spring in right field Wednesday, but trouble with one of his wisdom teeth derailed that plan and he was scratched from the Rangers’ lineup.Nevertheless, the third-base prospect said that he feels far more comfortable roaming the outfield than he did during his one major-league start there in August.He has been working with outfield coach Gary Pettis to get a feel for the position, and Olt could become the Rangers’ right fielder in the event that Nelson Cruz is sacked by a 50- game suspension for his involvement with an anti-aging clinic in Miami.Olt learned last week during his first appearance in right that he is far more comfortable there than he was seven months ago.“I wasn’t too uncomfortable before because I thought I was athletic enough to play outfield,” Olt said before his tooth issue flared up. “I’ve gotten better at making reads and judging balls off the bat. My first instinct was that every ball was going to be hit hard.”Scheppers, Tateyama returnTanner Scheppers and Yoshinori Tateyama worked a scoreless inning apiece in a B game against the Cubs, their first game action since suffering hamstring and back strains earlier in camp.Scheppers earned the victory after a 1-2-3 second inning before the Rangers’ lineup of minor leaguers scored four runs against Jeff Samardzija, projected to be the Cubs’ starter on Opening Day.Scheppers reported no issues with his left leg.“It just feels good to get back in the game,” said Scheppers, who threw 10 pitches and struck out one. “This is the start of my spring training. We’ve got a longer spring, and I feel right on pace.”Briefly• Center fielder Leonys Martin was scratched from the Rangers’ lineup because of tightness in his left hamstring that he first felt Sunday. Neither he or the Rangers are particularly concerned about the injury. Martin, who is hitting .381, expects to miss no more than a few days.• Cody Buckel, the prospect who had a 63.00 ERA after two Cactus League outings, was sent to minor-league camp along with reliever Yonata Ortega. Roman Mendez and Matt West were sent to Double A Frisco and Class A Myrtle Beach.Jeff Wilson, 817-390-7760 Twitter: @JeffWilson_FWST
