Rangers notes: Trade for Carlos Corporan adds catching depth

In the wake of Monday’s trade that brought former Fort Worth Trimble Tech star Yovani Gallardo back home to join the pitching staff, the Rangers announced Wednesday that catcher Carlos Corporan had been acquired in a trade with the Astros.

Corporan, who hit .235 with six homers and 19 RBIs in 55 games a year ago, will back up Robinson Chirinos, Rangers assistant general manager Thad Levine said.

The Rangers traded pitching prospect Akeem Bostick, a second-round draft pick out of high school in 2013.

Corporan is in the first of three years as an arbitration-eligible player, so the Rangers will have him under control contractually through 2017.

Chris Gimenez and Tomas Telis will also be in big league camp competing for a potential third catcher’s spot on the roster.

Chirinos hit .239 with 13 homers in a career-high 93 games in 2014. He said he is excited about the addition of Corporan.

Recently acquired right-hander Gonzalez Germen was designated for assignment to make room for Corporan.

Moreland feels good

Mitch Moreland expects to be at full speed for the Rangers’ first full-team spring training workout on Feb. 26. Moreland missed most of the last four months in 2014 after surgery on his left ankle.

Moreland has been training and receiving therapy at a clinic in Tempe, Ariz., five days a week. He has hit off a tee and in short toss but hasn’t yet fully aired it out. But he’s confident the ankle is stronger than before the injury.

“It affects every part of your game. You kind of work from the ground up, your strength is from the ground up,” he said. “It’s good to be able to feel like I have my legs back under me. I’ll be ready to do what ever they need me to do.”

Briefly

▪ Infielder Jurickson Profar (shoulder) threw for the first time on Wednesday from 45 feet. He’s expected to be ready by the end of spring training.

▪ Yu Darvish, whose 2014 season was cut short because of an elbow injury, is expected to throw off the mound for the first time on Feb. 2, pitching coach Mike Maddux said. Darvish threw during Wednesday’s workout at Globe Life Park. “Arm is working good. [He’s in] great shape. Work ethic with him has always been off the charts. He’s very professional that way,” Maddux said.

▪ Matt Harrison (back surgery) threw from 75 feet this week and feels good, he said. He expects to throw off the mound by mid-March. “It takes me a few more throws to get loose, but after I’m done I feel normal,” Harrison said. He hopes to be ready by June.

This story was originally published January 21, 2015 at 5:10 PM with the headline "Rangers notes: Trade for Carlos Corporan adds catching depth."