Rangers trade Gimenez to Indians, option Brett Nicholas to Triple A
The Texas Rangers’ catcher carousel was spinning fast Wednesday. The Rangers traded catcher Chris Gimenez to the Cleveland Indians for cash considerations and optioned Brett Nicholas to Triple A Round Rock.
The moves made room for catcher Bobby Wilson, who started Wednesday against the Blue Jays.
Gimenez was designated for assignment on Tuesday when the club reacquired Wilson in a trade with the Detroit Tigers. The Rangers sent Triple A left-hander Chad Bell to Detriot in return for Wilson.
Wilson was with the Rangers the last two months of 2015 and was in spring training camp until being traded to the Tigers with pitcher Myles Jaye for catcher Bryan Holaday.
It’s not a negative thing by any means. I’ll continue to do what I was doing, get even better, and when these guys need another guy I’ll make sure I’m ready for that opportunity.
Catcher Brett Nicholas
“This is a place I had success at last year,” said Wilson, who has played with five teams since 2012. “The atmosphere of the clubhouse, it’s a special place to be. This is one of the places I’ve felt most comfortable.”
Wilson has followed the success of the Rangers’ rotation, which has made 21 quality starts in the first 28 games.
“We knew it was going to be a special team,” he said. “I’d like to continue that success they’ve had so far.”
His two young daughters can also pull their Rangers clothes from storage.
“I’ve been living out of a couple suitcases for the past month. It’s been tough on my family and my two kids,” said Wilson, who hasn’t seen his family since the trade March 29.
His wife and daughters will be in Arlington when the Rangers return next week. “I know they’re excited. They love Arlington, the people and the family.”
Nicholas was hitting .257 with two homers and four RBI in 10 games with the Rangers, his first experience in the big leagues. He started the first two games in Toronto. General manager Jon Daniels said Nicholas’ having minor league options available was a big factor in the move.
[Bobby Wilson] knows our staff very well, plus we like the improvements that he made during spring training at the plate.
Rangers manager Jeff Banister
“He’s played really well,” he said. “He’s given us a shot in the arm.”
Keeping 8 relievers
The Rangers’ use of six relievers in Tuesday’s 10-inning loss made carrying three catchers unwise, Daniels said. He and manager Jeff Banister had discussed it as an option.
Banister said he’d use Wilson and Holaday based on match-ups and how they work with that night’s pitcher, more than who the opposing pitcher is.
“Both these guys are defensive-minded,” he said. “What they do behind the plate, how they run the pitching staff, how they control the running game, how they block.”
Nicholas, Banister said, is likely to be recalled later in the season.
“We like what Nicholas did,” he said. “He played very well for us. It was a tough decision on optioning him down. There are a lot of pluses there for him.”
Nicholas upbeat
Nicholas was a little surprised by the move but remained upbeat after his first stint in the majors.
“It confirmed that all the hard work I’ve been putting in was moving in the right direction,” he said. “It just built a lot of confidence moving forward. It’s not a negative thing by any means.
“I’ll continue to do what I was doing, get even better, and when these guys need another guy I’ll make sure I’m ready for that opportunity.”
Error streak
The Rangers haven’t made an error in 11 consecutive games. The last time the Rangers had a longer streak was 15 games in August 1996.
Texas’ .990 fielding percentage ranked second in the majors and first in the American League.
Stefan Stevenson: 817-390-7760, @StevensonFWST
This story was originally published May 4, 2016 at 2:24 PM with the headline "Rangers trade Gimenez to Indians, option Brett Nicholas to Triple A."