Griffin finally gets official nod as Texas Rangers’ No. 5 starter

The minor league contract of A.J. Griffin will be purchased Friday, bringing an end to the protracted decision on which pitcher will be the Texas Rangers’ fifth starter.

Griffin became the obvious choice after all other competitors were either assigned or optioned to the minors or placed in the bullpen as the long reliever. Yet, the Rangers delayed making it official until their game notes were delivered at noon Thursday.

The Rangers were pursuing starting options from outside the organization, though with no luck, after buying themselves as much time as possible by using an eight-man bullpen over the first four games.

Game 4 was Thursday night at Angel Stadium, where Griffin said that he understood the delay but feels a whole lot better nonetheless.

“They made it clear, but it’s baseball; so, you never know,” Griffin said. “Once I got on the plane yesterday, I felt a little more confident about what was going on.”

Griffin won the right to be held in suspense with a solid spring, more so than others in the competition. He erased any concerns the Rangers had about his health, which was an issue in 2014 because of Tommy John surgery and 2015 with a shoulder injury during his comeback.

The Rangers will need their fifth start again Wednesday at Seattle but then can use off days to skip the fifth spot until May 3. Griffin is just thankful to have any opportunity after the past two seasons.

“I’m just going to go out there and get everyone out and work well with whoever is catching,” Griffin said. “I’m thankful that the Rangers gave me an opportunity to come and pitch.”

Phil Klein, the long man, is a candidate to be optioned to the minor leagues to create a spot for Griffin on the 25-man roster, and a player will have to be designated for assignment to create a spot for Griffin on the 40-man roster.

Chris Gimenez, who became the odd man out in the catching picture after Bryan Holaday was acquired March 29, can’t be DFA’d because he is on the 15-day disabled list.

No birthday extension

Third baseman Adrian Beltre turned 37 on Thursday, and he received several nice gifts from his family. His team, though, did not give him a contract extension.

Nothing has changed from last week, when Beltre revealed that negotiations produced something that Rangers brass said they would take to ownership. A response never came, and Beltre said that he will not negotiate during the season but would consider an offer.

He said that he doesn’t understand what is causing the delay, which has reached three weeks.

“They have to do what they have to do, but I think I’ve earned a little respect of having something to say yes or no to,” Beltre said. “Clearly we don’t want to drag this into the season, but I hoped the people on the other side understand I would have liked to have had something to say yes or no to.”

Moreland vs. a lefty

First baseman Mitch Moreland, a left-handed hitter, returned to the lineup Thursday to face Angels left-hander Hector Santiago a day after sitting against Seattle lefty Wade Miley.

Moreland entered only 1 for 7 against Santiago in his career, while the right-handed-hitting Ryan Rua, who played first Wednesday, was 3 for 8.

Manager Jeff Banister told reporters on Wednesday that Moreland wouldn’t sit against all lefties, but Banister also doesn’t want regulars on the bench on consecutive days this early in the season.

“The core group of guys — again, it’s the fourth game of the year — helping them continue to develop to continue that rhythm,” Banister said. “I didn’t want Moreland sitting two days in a row.”

This story was originally published April 7, 2016 at 8:26 PM with the headline "Griffin finally gets official nod as Texas Rangers’ No. 5 starter."