Rangers sign free agent infielder Adam Rosales to one-year contract

Arlington, Texas - The Texas Rangers today announced the club has signed free agent infielder Adam Rosales to a one-year contract for the 2015 season. To make room on the 40-man roster for Rosales, the team has designated right-handed pitcher Matt West for assignment.

Rosales, 31, returns to Texas after batting .262 with 4 home runs and 19 RBI in 56 games with the club in 2014. He was not tendered a 2015 contract offer by the Rangers prior to the December 2 deadline, which made him a free agent. Rosales spent the final three months of 2014 in the majors and started 31 of the club's final 36 games. He was selected Rangers Player of the Month after batting .352 in August with his first career multi-homer contest and walk-off RBI in consecutive Texas wins that month. For the year, he made starts at first base (27), second base (5), third base (5), designated hitter (5), and shortstop (2).

Rosales will be in spring training camp with the Rangers for a second straight year after being acquired from Oakland via multiple waiver claims in August 2013. He has a career .226 batting average with 24 home runs and 99 RBI over 375 major league games with Cincinnati (2008-09), Oakland (2010-13), and Texas (2013-14).

The Rangers have 10 days to trade, release, or outright West to the minor leagues. The 26-year-old converted infielder made 3 relief appearances for the Rangers in July, his first major league action.

After today's transactions, the club still has a full 40-man roster.

OVIEDO SIGNED TO MINORS DEAL WITH INVITE: The Rangers have also signed right-handed pitcher Juan Carlos Oviedo (pronounced oh-vee-YAY-doh) to a minor league contract with an invitation to major league spring training. Ovideo, who turns 33 on March 15, went 3-3 with a 3.69 ERA (13 ER/31.2 IP) in 32 relief appearances for Tampa Bay last season before he was designated for assignment on July 26 and given his unconditional release on August 5. He did not pitch in the majors in 2012-13 and had Tommy John ligament replacement surgery in September 2012. He has a career 21-23 record with 93 saves and a 4.28 ERA for Kansas City (2005-08), Miami (2009-11), and Tampa Bay (2014). His 92 saves from 2009-11 ranked 8th in MLB.