Rangers avoid arbitration with Profar, Chirinos

ARLINGTON -- The Rangers avoided an arbitration hearing with infielder Jurickson Profar by agreeing to a one-year contract on Thursday, and the club did the same with catcher Robinson Chirinos and pitcher Tanner Scheppers on Friday.
Profar will make $605,000 this season as he continues his recovery from right shoulder surgery, while Chirinos will make $1.55 million. According to a source, Scheppers will earn $900,000 in 2016.
Profar has missed almost two complete seasons because of a torn muscle in his right shoulder. He underwent surgery Feb. 23, 2015, and was limited to 12 games as a designated hitter in the Minor Leagues on a medical rehabilitation assignment. He also hit .267 with two home runs and 20 RBIs over 20 games in the Arizona Fall League.
Profar is on a continued throwing program, and the Rangers are hoping he'll be ready for Spring Training. He is expected to start the season at Triple-A Round Rock as the everyday shortstop.
Chirinos made a team-high 73 starts behind the plate in 2015 and started three games in the American League Division Series against Toronto despite battling a left shoulder strain over the final two months of the season. The 31-year-old batted .232/.325/.438 with 10 homers and 34 RBIs.
Those signings left the Rangers with three arbitration-eligible players ahead of Friday's deadline for exchanging salary figures: pitchers Shawn Tolleson and Jake Diekman and first baseman Mitch Moreland.
Tolleson is seeking $3.9 million in arbitration and the Rangers countered with $2.6 million. Diekman filed at $1.55 million, with Texas offering $975,000. Moreland asked for $6 million, compared to the Rangers' offer of $4.675 million.