Rangers notes: Neftali Feliz’s tenure with Texas comes to an end

Neftali Feliz, the hard-throwing closer who was on the mound for some of the best and worst moments in Texas Rangers history, has thrown his last pitch for the club.

Feliz, 27, who was designated for assignment on July 3, has elected to become a free agent. Players with five years of major league experience have that option. Reliever Kyuji Fujikawa did the same in May.

Feliz saved 72 games during the Rangers' two World Series seasons in 2010-11. He led the majors with 59 games finished in 2010.

He was on the mound for the final out in five of the Rangers’ postseason wins that season, including the Game 6 win over the Yankees that advanced the Rangers to their first World Series.

In 2011, he saved six postseason games but was charged with a blown save in Game 6 of the World Series against the Cardinals when the Rangers needed one strike in the ninth for the title.

In 2012, the Rangers tried using him as a starter but ended up needing Tommy John surgery and he didn’t return until September 2013.

He opened as the Rangers’ closer this season but was removed from the role in mid-May by manager Jeff Banister after his third blown save.

Feliz’s velocity never returned to the consistent high-90s of his pre-Tommy John surgery days. He hit 98 mph at Tampa Bay in early May when he earned two of his six saves but never showed similar velocity again.

“We all got excited, but that was the last time we saw it,” Banister said. “If you just kind of go back and look at the body of work, that kind of speaks to it. I think the inconsistency of it all, really.”

Feliz was sent to Triple A Round Rock but never found consistency. He had a 4.58 ERA in 19 2/3 innings for the Rangers this season.

The emergence of Shawn Tolleson as the closer also helped the Rangers with the decision to let Feliz go. Tolleson has 12 saves since assuming the role on May 20.

“Shawn has held down that role and been consistent and really what you look for in that spot, is consistency. Knowing what you’re going to get, what you can trust you’re going to get,” Banister said.

Ranaudo’s role

Anthony Ranaudo has been a starter his whole career and eventually he’ll start again, but for now he’ll remain a bullpen option for the Rangers.

Ranaudo has pitched once in long relief since being called up last week for the third time.

Banister likes having both Anthony Bass and Ranaudo available as long-innings options with pitchers such as Matt Harrison and eventually Martin Perez making returns from injuries.

“I think we’d really like at some point for him to be in a starter’s role. But right now where we’re at, just having him out there is a benefit for us. He is a starter, but out of necessity right now he’s in that long role for us,” he said.

Homers equal savings

Prince Fielder’s home runs at Monday’s Home Run Derby at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati will come with a cost.

For each homer Fielder hits, the Rangers will take a $1 off Lexus Club Box and Lower Box tickets (up to $25 per ticket) for any of the following three home games: Aug. 17 and 19 against the Mariners and Oct. 1 against the Angels.

If Fielder wins the derby, which he did in 2009 and 2012, tickets for those three games will be discounted 50 percent.

The offer will be available for 84 hours beginning noon Tuesday until midnight July 17 at texasrangers.com/Prince with the coupon code PRINCE.

This story was originally published July 10, 2015 at 6:38 PM with the headline "Rangers notes: Neftali Feliz’s tenure with Texas comes to an end."