Rangers Re-Sign OF James Jones to Minor League Contract

The Texas Rangers announced today that the club has re-signed outfielder James Jones to a minor league contract with an invitation to major league spring training. The team has also made a minor league trade with the Chicago White Sox, acquiring right-handed pitcher Myles Jaye in exchange for left-handed pitcher Will Lamb.

Jones, 27, was not tendered a contract offer by the Rangers prior to the deadline on December 2. He was originally acquired in a trade with Seattle on November 16. Jones has batted .238 in 136 major league games with the Mariners over the last 2 seasons (2014-15), including 28 games across 3 stints with Seattle in 2015. The left-handed batter and thrower has played all 3 outfield spots and gone 28-for-30 in stolen bases attempts at the big league level. He spent the balance of last season with Triple-A Tacoma, ranking among the Pacific Coast League leaders in both triples (T6th, 7) and stolen bases (T10th, 25). Jones also compiled a .341/.397/.462/.859 slash line with 7 stolen bases over 34 games for Aragua in the Venezuelan Winter League after the season.

Jaye, who turns 24 on December 28, spent last season with Double-A Birmingham in the Chicago White Sox system. Jaye posted a 12-9 record with a 3.29 ERA (54 ER/147.2 IP) over 26 games/starts for the Barons in 2015. Opponents batted .244 with 47 walks, 104 strikeouts, and 8 home runs (0.49 HR per 9 innings). Jaye was originally selected by Toronto in the 17th round of the 2010 June draft, but was traded to Chicago-AL in a deal involving former Ranger Jason Frasor on January 1, 2012. A starter throughout his pro career, Jaye will be seeking his first action above the Double-A level next season.

Lamb, 25, split last season with Frisco (AA) and Round Rock (AAA), combining for a 3-4 record and 4.42 ERA (28 ER/57.0 IP) over 47 relief appearances. Lamb has spent his entire career in the Texas system after being selected in the second round of the 2011 June draft.

None of today's transactions impacted the 40-man roster, as the Rangers' major league roster still has 37 players.

RULE 5 DRAFT, MINOR LEAGUE PHASE: In the minor league phase of this morning's Rule 5 Draft, the Rangers selected one player and had one player selected by another club:

· Texas selected INF/OF Garrett Weber from the Arizona Diamondbacks' Double-A Mobile roster in the first round of the Triple-A phase. Weber, 26, batted .302 (122-404) with 27 doubles, 4 triples, 9 home runs, and 55 RBI over 114 games with Double-A Mobile and Triple-A Reno in the Arizona organization last season. The Fresno State product is a career .299 hitter over five minor league seasons.

· Boston selected RHP Angelo Leclerc off the Rangers' Double-A Frisco roster in the second round of the Triple-A phase. The 24-year-old Leclerc was 3-4 with a 5.52 ERA (28 ER/45.2 IP) over 30 relief appearances for High-A High Desert and Double-A Frisco in 2015.