Texas Rangers purchase contract of LHP Wandy Rodriguez from Round Rock to start tonight

Anaheim, Calif. - The Texas Rangers announced today that the club has purchased the contract of left-handed pitcher Wandy Rodriguez from Triple-A Round Rock. Rodriguez will make his Rangers debut as a starter on Friday night against the Los Angeles Angels.

To make room for Rodriguez on both the 25 and 40-man rosters, right-handed Logan Verrett has been designated for assignment.

Rodriguez, 36, signed a minor league contract with Texas on April 6. He had no record and a 2.57 ERA (2 ER/7.0 IP) in 2 games/starts for the Express, holding PCL opponents to a .174 (4-23) average with one HR, no BB, and 10 SO. The left-hander was scratched from scheduled start on Wednesday vs. Colorado Springs in advance of his start tonight for Texas.

Rodriguez originally signed a minor league deal with Atlanta in January and was released on April 3. He went 2-0 with a 3.13 ERA (8 ER/23.0 IP) in 6 Grapefruit League games/starts for the Braves this spring, holding opponents to a .250 average with 8 walks and 23 strikeouts. 

Rodriguez has pitched in the majors in each of the last 10 seasons, compiling a career record of 91-94 with a 4.06 ERA in 258 games/248 starts with Houston (2005-12) and Pittsburgh (2012-14). He was released by Pittsburgh on June 1 last season after making 6 starts. He has won 10-or-more games 5 times in his career, including 4 straight from 2009-12, and has cleared 190.0 innings on 4 occasions.

Verrett was 0-1, 6.00 (6 ER/9.0 IP) in four relief appearances for Texas in his first major league action. The right-hander was received on a waiver claim from the Baltimore Orioles on April 2 and was on Texas' opening day roster. Verrett was selected by Baltimore from the New York Mets in the Rule 5 Draft on December 11, 2014. The right-hander must be offered back to the Mets if he passes through the waiver process.  

With today's moves, the Rangers major league roster remains at the 40-man limit.