Rangers Acquire LHP Jesse Biddle From Seattle on Waiver Claim

LHP Jeffrey Springs transferred to 60-day injured list

June 28th, 2019

St. Petersburg, Florida – The Texas Rangers today announced that the club has acquired left-handed pitcher Jesse Biddle from the Seattle Mariners on a waiver claim. Biddle will be placed on the active roster when he reports. Additionally, left-handed pitcher Jeffrey Springs has been transferred to the 60-day injured list.

The 27-year-old Biddle has combined to go 0-1 with a 7.54 ERA (19 ER/22.2 IP) over 26 relief appearances with the Mariners and Atlanta Braves this season. He appeared in 11 games with the Mariners before he was designated for assignment on Sunday, allowing 14 R-12 ER over 11.0 innings. The Mariners had acquired Biddle from Atlanta, along with RHP Arodys Vizcaino, in exchange for RHP Anthony Swarzak on May 20. Prior to the trade, Biddle pitched in 15 games with the Braves, going 0-1 with a 5.40 ERA (7 ER/11.2 IP).

Biddle made his Major League debut with the Braves last season, going 6-1 with a 3.11 ERA (22 ER/63.2 IP) over a team-high 60 relief appearances. He averaged 9.5 strikeouts per 9.0 innings and held opponents to a .218/.318/.336/.654 slash line.

Springs was placed on the 10-day injured list June 19, retroactive to June 17, with left biceps tendinitis. He has gone 4-1 with a 6.23 ERA (18 ER/26.0 IP) over 20 relief appearances with Texas this season.

Following these transactions, the Rangers remain at the 40-man limit on the club’s Major League roster, along with six players on the 60-day injured list: RHP Luke Farrell, LHP Taylor Hearn, OF Scott Heineman, LHP Yohander Méndez, LHP Jeffrey Springs and RHP Edinson Vólquez.