Texas Rangers Likely to Protect Delino DeShields

There is only one outfield spot left for the Texas Rangers to fill and it looks like the job will be awarded to Delino DeShields instead of Carlos Peguero.

Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports that according to a source Peguero has been told he will not make the roster. The club has not made an official announcement, but all signs point to the Rangers protecting their Rule 5 Draft pick from going back to the Houston Astros.

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Carlos Peguero and Delino DeShields were both equally impressive this spring and are statistically similar. Peguero hit 5 doubles, one home run and drove in 5 runs while batting .356. Granted, DeShields’ batting average (.263) does not look as impressive he hit three doubles, a triple, one home run and stole three bases all while playing in only 14 games, 6 less than Peguero.

The Texas Rangers are likely to make the final decision in a couple of days according to the skipper.

We still have a few decisions to make,” Rangers manager Jeff Banister said. “We’ll finalize those decisions in the next few days.” (via T.R. Sullivan, MLB.com)

However, if this weekend’s travel roster for the Rangers exhibition game against the New York Mets is any indication, then Delino DeShields will indeed be the outfield’s backup. He is listed on the roster, Peguero is not.

The Rangers could have gone either way and either player would have been a good choice. I think the main reason Texas will pick DeShields is to keep him away from the Astros. He has to start the season on the Opening Day roster and remain on the roster for the entire season, otherwise he has to be put through waivers. And, that is a whole ‘nother headache nobody wants to deal with.

Still, I won’t be a bit surprised to see Peguero in Arlington sometime this summer. I think this is one dilemma Banister is happy to have. Is the skipper making the right call? Who would you choose?

NEVER. EVER. QUIT.

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