ARLINGTON -- The Rangers have claimed right-hander pitcher Tyler Wagner off waivers from the D-backs on Friday. Wagner, a former teammate of Joey Gallo at Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas, has been used as a starter for most of his Minor League career.
Wagner missed most of last season with a strained right latissimus dorsal muscle and did not pitch after May 13. He had a 1.80 ERA in three relief appearances for the D-backs, and was 1-4 with a 5.06 ERA in five starts at Triple-A Reno.
The righty was a fourth-round pick by the Brewers in 2012 out of the University of Utah, and he was 0-2 with a 7.24 ERA in three starts for Milwaukee in 2015. In five Minor League seasons, Wagner is 37-30 with a 3.15 ERA in 93 starts and three relief appearances.
In 2015, he made 25 starts at Double-A Biloxi and was 11-5 with a 2.25 ERA that was the lowest in the Southern League. Wagner's 1.15 WHIP was the second-lowest in the league. He was traded to the D-backs on Jan. 30.
To make room for Wagner on the 40-man roster, the Rangers outrighted right-handed pitcher Adrian Sampson to Triple-A Round Rock. Sampson was claimed on waivers from the Mariners on Nov. 2, but he is still recovering from June 30 surgery to repair a torn flexor tendon in his right elbow and is not expected to be ready for Spring Training.
The Rangers now have 38 players on the 40-man roster, with Andrew Cashner still to be added once his one-year, $10 million contract is announced.
Guzman added to 40-man roster
The Rangers have added Minor League first baseman Ronald Guzman to the 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 Draft. Guzman, rated the fourth-best Rangers prospect by MLBPipeline.com, as well as infielder Drew Robinson, who was promoted last month, are the only Minor Leaguers who were eligible to be taken in the Rule 5 Draft that have been added to the 40-man roster.

Guzman, 22, split last season with Frisco and Round Rock, hitting .274 with 21 doubles, 16 home runs and 67 RBIs over 127 games. He was selected to the Texas League All-Star team.
Among the most notable Rangers players left unprotected are outfielder Jairo Beras and left-handed pitcher Pedro Payano.
Beltre named Rangers Player of the Year
Third baseman Adrián Beltré has been selected as Rangers Player of the Year and will be honored at the 2017 Dr. Pepper Texas Rangers Award Dinner on Friday, Jan. 20, at Gilley's Dallas.
It's the fourth time Beltre has been selected for the honor, tying Ruben Sierra for the third most in club history. Michael Young and Juan Gonzalez were selected five times each.
Beltre batted .300 with 32 home runs and 104 RBIs in 153 games this past season. He also won his fifth American League Gold Glove Award for fielding excellence and was seventh in the AL Most Valuable Player Award voting.

Tickets for the banquet can be purchased at www.texasrangers.com\awards.