Sign INF/OF Mark Teahen to Minors Contract

The Texas Rangers announced today that the club has placed right-handed pitcher Derek Lowe on waivers for the purpose of giving him his unconditional release. The team has also signed infielder/outfielder Mark Teahen (pronounced TEA-en) to a minor league contract.

Lowe was designated for assignment on Monday, May 20, when Josh Lindblom was added to the active roster to start that night's contest. Lowe was signed by Texas to a minor league contract on March 6 and made the team's Opening Day roster. In 9 relief appearances with the Rangers, Lowe allowed 13 runs/earned runs over 13.0 innings.

Teahen, 31, will work out at the Rangers complex in Surprise, Ariz. Today and report to Triple-A Round Rock in Memphis on Friday. Teahen has spent the season in the Diamondbacks organization, batting .211 (15-71) with no homers and 5 RBI in 22 games for Triple-A Reno. He was on the Aces disabled list from May 4-11 with a left shoulder strain. The disabled list stint came following a May 1 trade to Cincinnati for a player to be named later, after which he was returned to the Diamondbacks due to injury. He was released by Arizona on Monday, May 20, and his last game came with Reno on April 30 vs. Las Vegas.

Teahen has a career .264 average with 67 home runs and 332 RBI in 831 games with Kansas City (2005-09), Chicago-AL (2010-11) and Toronto (2011). His best year came with the Royals in 2006, when he set career highs with a .290 average, 18 home runs, and 69 RBI in 109 games. Teahen's last big league game came with the Blue Jays on September 28, 2011 at Chicago-AL.