Rangers make Choo's switch to right field official

SURPRISE, Ariz. -- Rangers manager Jeff Banister acknowledged for the first time on Friday what has been obvious all winter.

The Rangers are moving outfielder Shin-Soo Choo from left to right field. That has obviously been the plan from the beginning, but this is the first time Banister has openly talked about the move.

"We think he'll be more comfortable in right field," Banister said.

Choo played mostly left field last season and was the Reds' center fielder in 2013. Prior to that, Choo spent six years playing right field for the Indians. Given the outfield configuration of Globe Life Park, there is less room to cover in right field than left.

"It doesn't matter to me where they put me. I can play all three positions," Choo said.

Video: Outlook: Choo poised for bounce-back campaign in 2015

Holland impresses in live BP

Rangers starting pitchers threw live batting practice again on Friday, and hitters were asking pitching coach Mike Maddux if Derek Holland was in midseason form.

"I told them, 'No, it's only Spring Training," Maddux said. "But the ball looked good coming out of his hand. The hard work he did this winter is showing up."

Video: Holland excited to be back at Spring Training

Yu Darvish also threw live batting practice, going up against Choo, Adrian Beltre, Prince Fielder and Mitch Moreland. Choo hit a home run off him.

"An Arizona home run," Darvish joked.

"The next pitch he threw me came inside," Choo said.

Worth noting:

• The Rangers signed 16 players off the 40-man roster to one-year contracts: Pitchers Nick Tepesch, Anthony Ranaudo, Spencer Patton, Jerad Eickhoff, Jon Edwards, Alex Claudio and Lisalverto Bonilla; catchers Jorge Alfaro and Tomas Telis; infielders Hanser Alberto, Rougned Odor and Jurickson Profar; and outfielders Michael Choice, Ryan Rua, Jake Smolinski and Delino DeShields. All will make the minimum of $507,500 or just above it.

• The Rangers have seven players still unsigned: pitchers Shawn Tolleson, Tanner Scheppers, Roman Mendez, Nick Martinez, Phil Klein and Luke Jackson, and catcher Robinson Chirinos. The Rangers' goal is to get all players signed before the beginning of Cactus League play on Wednesday.

• Pitcher Martin Perez, who is recovering from Tommy John surgery, has been limited to flat-ground throwing, but he is hoping to graduate to the half-mound next week.

Video: TEX@HOU: Broadcast on Perez and Harrison going to DL

• The Rangers made a run at free-agent reliever Joba Chamberlain earlier this week before he re-signed with the Tigers. The Rangers offered him more money, but Chamberlain opted to go back to the Tigers.