ARLINGTON — The Rangers have signed right-handed pitcher Nick Tropeano to a Minor League deal with an invitation to Major League Spring Training, the club announced on Wednesday.
Tropeano only made five big league appearances in 2021, posting a 1-0 record with a 2.25 ERA between the Giants and Mets. He’s spent seven of the last eight seasons bouncing between the Minors and the big leagues. Over 54 MLB games, Tropeano has a 14-14 record with a 4.22 ERA. He posted a 3.69 ERA in Triple-A in 2021.
The Rangers have pitching depth, but they are no doubt in need of another solidified big leaguer in the rotation heading into 2022. Tropeano gives Texas another option as a starter if he’s able to break into the roster following camp.
Hair, Linarez, Mendez and Procyshen were all part of the Rangers organization in 2021, but Sale has been out of Major League Baseball since 2014 after being a 2010 first-round selection by the Rays. In 2021, Sale played for Gastonia of the independent Atlantic League. There he slashed .284/.394/.593/.986 with a league-leading 34 home runs.
Sale was suspended twice by Major League Baseball for violating the league’s drug policies and once by Tampa Bay for disciplinary reasons. He was released by the Rays in 2015. Over three Minor League seasons from 2011-12 and in 2014, he slashed .238/.332/.381.
Hair, a 34th-round Draft selection by the Rays in 2017, played 66 games for High-A Hickory in 2021, slashing .291/.380/.513 with a .893 OPS and 13 home runs. He’s spent parts of the last four seasons either in the Rangers’ or Rays’ farm systems, in addition to competing in independent leagues.
Linarez has spent seven seasons in the Rangers’ farm system, posting a 3.84 ERA and 4-4 record in 2021 between Low-A Down East and High-A Hickory.
Mendez has also spent his entire professional career with the Rangers organization after being selected in the 40th round of the 2013 Draft. He split last season between Double-A Frisco and Triple-A Round Rock, posting a 4.87 ERA over 28 games mostly out of the bullpen.
Procyshen signed a Minor League contract with the Rangers last April and spent the entire season in Frisco. He hit .197 and also made seven appearances as a reliever, going 2-1 with a 2.79 ERA.