Texas Rangers

Big names take minor league deals into Rangers’ big league camp

Major league veteran James Loney, who played 100 games for the Mets in 2016, is one of 15 nonroster invitees to the Rangers’ major league spring training.
Major league veteran James Loney, who played 100 games for the Mets in 2016, is one of 15 nonroster invitees to the Rangers’ major league spring training. The Associated Press

The Rangers have invited 15 players signed to minor league deals to major league spring training, which begins Feb. 15 in Surprise, Ariz.

Among those players will be first baseman James Loney, who the Rangers officially announced had signed a minor league deal Tuesday. Loney, 32, an 11-year major league veteran, hit .265 with nine homers and 34 RBIs in 100 games for the Mets in 2016.

FanRagSports’s Jon Heyman reported that Loney can request his release if he’s not on the Rangers’ major league roster March 29, the last day the club is in Arizona.

Minor league pitchers R.J. Alvarez, Ariel Jurado and Jose Valdespina, along with catchers Jose Trevino and Patrick Cantwell, will also start spring training in major league camp.

Stefan Stevenson: 817-390-7760, @StevensonFWST

Rangers non-roster invitees

RHP R.J. Alvarez

RHP Dillon Gee

RHP Ariel Jurado

RHP Jose Valdespina

RHP Allen Webster

C Patrick Cantwell

C Steven Lerud

C Jose Trevino

INF Doug Bernier

INF Will Middlebrooks

INF James Loney

INF/OF Josh Hamilton

OF Jared Hoying

OF Cesar Puello

OF Travis Snider

This story was originally published January 24, 2017 at 2:43 PM with the headline "Big names take minor league deals into Rangers’ big league camp."

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