Texas Rangers sign three minor league free agents with Spring Training invitations

Arlington, Texas - The Texas Rangers announced today that the club signed three free agents, right-handed pitchers Jose Contreras and Nate Adcock and outfielder Bryan Petersen to 2014 minor league contracts with non-roster invitations to major league spring training.

Contreras, who turns 42 tomorrow, spent last season with the Pittsburgh and Red Sox organizations. His only major league action in 2013 came with the Pirates in May, when he permitted 5 runs over 5.0 innings in 7 relief outings. He was also 2-3 with a 3.00 ERA (11 ER/33.0 IP) over 27 relief appearances in the minors last season, pitching for Bradenton (High-A), Altoona (AA), Indianapolis (AAA), and Pawtucket (AAA). Contreras had Tommy John ligament replacement surgery on his right elbow on June 20, 2012 and spent spring training rehabbing from the surgery. 

The Cuba native has a 78-67 career record with a 4.57 ERA (595 ER/1173.0 IP) over 299 games/175 starts with New York-AL (2003-04), Chicago-AL (2004-09), Colorado (2009), Philadelphia (2010-12), and Pittsburgh (2013). He was a member of the White Sox' 2005 World Championship club and was an All-Star with Chicago in 2006, when scheduled to start the game in Pittsburgh but was scratched after starting two days earlier. If he appears for the Rangers next season, Contreras would be second to only Nolan Ryan among oldest players in club history.

Adcock, 25, split last season in the Kansas City and Arizona organizations, going a combined 8-6 with a 6.67 ERA (84 ER/113.1 IP) in 26 games/19 starts for Omaha and Reno in the Pacific Coast League. His only major league action came with the Royals in 2011-12, when he was 1-4 with a 3.79 ERA (40 ER/95.0 IP) in 36 games/5 starts. Adcock was originally selected by Seattle in the 2006 June draft and signed by new Rangers amateur crosschecker Brian Williams.

Petersen, 27, batted .275 (139-506) with 33 doubles, 8 home runs, and 49 RBI in 136 games with New Orleans (AAA) in the Miami Marlins organization last season. He has spent had entire professional career in the Miami organization after the Marlins selected him in the fourth round of the 2007 June draft. Petersen made his major league debut in 2010 and appeared with the Marlins in each of the next three seasons, including a career-high 84 games in 2012. The left-handed batter and right-handed thrower has compiled a .220 (103-469) average with 22 doubles, 2 home runs, and 29 RBI over 181 games at the major league level.

With today's transactions, the Rangers now have 7 non-roster invitees to major league spring training for 2014.

WINTER LEAGUE UPDATES: In the Dominican Winter League, RHP Neftali Feliz has posted a 1.80 ERA (1 ER/5.0 IP) with 6 strikeouts over 5 relief appearances for Este…RHP Lisalverto Bonilla has joined Escogido, allowing one run and recording 3 strikeouts over 3.0 innings of relief work…knuckleballer RHP Kevin Pucetas went 2-0 with a 2.78 ERA (7 ER/22.2 IP) over his last 4 starts with Cibao...OF Engel Beltre is batting .364 (8-22) with 2 doubles, 4 RBI, and 3 runs scored over his last 6 games with Licey…in the Venezuelan Winter League, RHP Wilmer Font has compiled a 1.86 ERA (2 ER/9.2 IP) with 9 strikeouts over 11 relief appearances with Caracas…LHP Joseph Ortiz has 4 straight scoreless appearances (4.2 IP) with a pair of saves for La Guaira…INF Rougned Odor was selected to the Venezuelan Winter League All-Star Game…RHP Jose Samayoa, a 9th round pick in the 2013 draft, has posted a 2.57 ERA (4 ER/14.0 IP) over 11 relief appearances with Hermosillo in the Mexican Winter League…LHP Joe Burns has gone 2-0 with a 1.89 ERA (4 ER/19.0 IP) over his last 3 starts for the Melbourne Aces of the Australian Baseball League.