Texas Rangers add OF Alex Rios to active roster; OF Joey Butler optioned to Triple-A Round Rock

Houston, Texas — The Texas Rangers have added outfielder Alex Rios (#51) to the 25-man roster after he reported to the club today.  To make room on the active roster for Rios, the club has optioned outfielder Joey Butler to Triple-A Round Rock.

Rios, 32, was acquired along with cash considerations from the Chicago White Sox yesterday in exchange for a player to be named later or cash considerations.  He has batted .277 with 12 home runs, 22 doubles, and 55 RBI in 109 games for Chicago this season.  He ranks among American League leaders in outfield assists (T5th, 8) and stolen bases (T6th, 26).  He has batted .324 (12-37) with 6 RBI during a current 9-game hit streak that ended his White Sox career, one of his 4 hit streaks of 7-or-more games in 2013.  Rios is batting .308 (24-78) with one home run and 15 RBI since the All-Star break.  He also had a career-best 18-game hit streak from May 5-24 that ranks T2nd-longest in the league in 2013.

Rios has a career .278 average with 155 home runs and 682 RBI over 1408 games with Toronto (2004-09) and Chicago-AL (2009-13).  This season is his 5th career 20-stolen base campaign.  He was an All-Star in both 2006 and 2007, finishing 5th in A.L. Rookie of the Year voting in 2004.  He established career highs with 25 home runs and 91 RBI for the White Sox last year.  Rios is one of 4 active players with at least 300 doubles, 50 triples, 150 home runs, and 200 stolen bases in their career, joining Carlos Beltran, Derek Jeter, and Jimmy Rollins.

Butler went 2-for-4 with 2 doubles, a walk, and 2 runs in 2 games/one start since having his contract selected from Round Rock on Monday.  It was his first major league action, as his 2 doubles last night at Houston marked his first career big league hits.  Butler has spent the rest of the season with Round Rock, batting.290 (101-348) with 21 doubles, 10 home runs, and 44 RBI over 97 games.

The Rangers have a full 40-man roster.