A's lose Nunez to Rangers on waiver claim

SEATTLE -- Renato Núñez was claimed off waivers by the Rangers on Sunday.
The infielder/outfielder signed with the A's as a 16-year-old out of Venezuela in 2010, hitting .263 with 130 home runs in 700 Minor League games in Oakland's system and enjoying a pair of big league stints as a September callup in 2016 and '17.
Nunez, 24, is expected to join the A's American League West rival in Tampa Bay on Monday.
Being out of options, Nunez was considered a strong Opening Day roster contender at the start of spring, but he sustained a left hamstring injury in the first week of play and was sidelined for the remainder of the preseason.
He was 9-for-25 with two RBIs in six games during his rehab stint with Triple-A Nashville but was without a position in Oakland, where the A's have potential cornerstone pieces entrenched in the corners -- Matt Chapman at third and Matt Olson at first -- and a plethora of left-field options.
Pinder in action
Utility man Chad Pinder, on rehab assignment with Class A Advanced Stockton this weekend, homered on the first pitch he saw Sunday, finishing 1-for-2 with a walk while playing nine innings in right field for the Ports. Pinder, who went 1-for-5 in his first rehab game Saturday, could join the A's as soon as Monday, marking the first day he's eligible to return. He's been sidelined by a hyperextended left knee.
Franklin Barreto is expected to return to Triple-A Nashville when Pinder is activated.