Rangers ink catcher McKenry to Minors deal

ARLINGTON -- The Rangers on Wednesday signed catcher Michael McKenry to a Minor League contract with an invitation to Spring Training.

McKenry is the fourth catcher headed for Spring Training for the club. Texas has Robinson Chirinos and Chris Gimenez on the 40-man roster, while Bobby Wilson also agreed to a Minor League contract earlier this month.

McKenry, 30, has played in all or part of the past six seasons in the Major Leagues. He was with the Rockies in 2010, the Pirates in '11-13 and back to Colorado for the past two seasons. He was originally a seventh-round pick by the Rockies in the '06 Draft out of Middle Tennessee State.

A right-handed hitter, McKenry has a career batting average of .239 with a .319 on-base percentage and a .407 slugging percentage. In 838 Major League at-bats, he has 29 home runs and 103 RBIs.

McKenry's best season was with the Pirates in 2012, when he played in 88 games and hit .233 with 12 home runs, 39 RBIs and a .442 slugging percentage. He played in 58 games with the Rockies last season and hit .205 with four home runs, 17 RBIs and a .402 slugging percentage. McKenry suffered a torn lateral meniscus in his left knee in late August, but he is expected to be ready for Spring Training.

The Rangers also signed left-handed reliever Donnie Veal, 31, to a Minor League contract, although without an invitation to Spring Training. Veal has pitched in 105 games in the Majors with the Pirates, White Sox and Braves, going 3-3 with a 5.48 ERA. He has allowed 8.2 hits, 6.4 walks and 9.5 strikeouts per nine innings. He had a 1.69 ERA in 17 appearances in the Dominican Winter League.