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Texas Rangers: Delino DeShields ready to run it back

By Tyler Henderson|
ARLINGTON, TEXAS - MAY 03: Delino DeShields #3 of the Texas Rangers smiles in the dugout during the game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Globe Life Park in Arlington on May 03, 2019 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TEXAS - MAY 03: Delino DeShields #3 of the Texas Rangers smiles in the dugout during the game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Globe Life Park in Arlington on May 03, 2019 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images)
Texas Rangers sign Delino DeShields
(Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

After one year in Cleveland, Delino DeShields comes back home to the Texas Rangers on a minor league pact.

The Texas Rangers acquired Corey Kluber last offseason hoping he would turn their pitching woes around.

After just one inning of work, Kluber went down with an injury and is now a member of the New York Yankees rotation.

Giving up both Delino DeShields and Emmanuel Clase was difficult, but now half of that deal has been recouped almost a year later, as the Texas Rangers re-signed the fan favorite center fielder to a minor league deal on Monday.

https://twitter.com/LinoDeShields/status/1356330617521188865

To say that his Ranger teammates were excited would be an understatement.

Willie Calhoun took to Twitter to express his feelings about the DeShields signing.

https://twitter.com/11WillieCalhoun/status/1356336482466758656?s=20

DeShields was a 2015 Rule 5 draft pick out of the Houston Astros system and won the Texas Rangers Player of the Year award that same season.

He played a total of 539 games over his first five years with the Texas Rangers and hit .246 with 18 home runs and 106 stolen bases.

During his 37 games in Cleveland, DeShields hit .252 with seven RBIs and three stolen bases.

With Gold Glove winner Joey Gallo in right and newly-signed David Dahl set to man left, DeShields will have to compete for a spot in center field.

It is hard to imagine Delino taking over Leody Taveras‘ spot in center, but it will be an interesting competition to keep an eye on.

I may be digging too deep into it, but Taveras has switched his jersey number from “65” to “3,” which DeShields wore for the bulk of his Rangers career.

If DeShields does make the roster, he profiles as more of a fourth outfielder and pinch-runner type.

Texas Rangers signed Sam Gaviglio
(Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images)

The Texas Rangers also signed right-hander Sam Gaviglio to a minor-league deal.

Gaviglio has spent his four-year career with Seattle, Kansas City and a bulk of the time with Toronto.

The former Blue Jay owns a career 4.88 ERA over 98 major league games, but sports a 1.331 WHIP over his four seasons.

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