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Rangers Select Ben Peoples' Contract as Part of Multiple Transactions
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- Rangers Select Ben Peoples' Contract as Part of Multiple Transactions
The Texas Rangers logo. | USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Connect
ARLINGTON - The Texas Rangers wasted no time putting Ben Peoples in a position to make his Major League debut.
The reliever - who was acquired in a trade earlier this week from the Chicago White Sox - had his contract selected by the Rangers before Thursday's game with the Detroit Tigers , one of several moves the organization made before the game.
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The Rangers optioned pitcher Winston Santos to Triple-A Round Rock to make room for Peoples, who was also moved to the 40-man roster. The Rangers had two open spots on the 40-man so no player needed to be designated for assignment.
Texas also transferred the rehab assignment of left-handed pitcher Jordan Montgomery from Double-A Frisco to Triple-A Round Rock as he prepares for his third rehab assignment.
Plus, the Rangers announced that three players that they designated for assignment in the past few days - outfielder Jarred Kelenic , pitcher Joe Ross and pitcher Chris Paddack - all cleared waivers, refused their minor league assignments and opted to become free agents.
Will Ben Peoples Debut on Thursday?
Chicago White Sox pitcher Ben Peoples. | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
It's not a guarantee that Peoples will see the field tonight. Santos was called up last Wednesday in Miami and didn't pitch for a week before the Rangers gave him a shot to pitch on Wednesday. Texas plans to continue to build Santos up as a starter at Round Rock.
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The right-handed Peoples has pitched well at Triple-A Charlotte this season, his second as a reliever after being built up as a starter for his professional career. Batters were hitting .156 against him, with right-handers batting just .103 against him. He was seventh in the International League with a 2.39 ERA and he pitched in 29 games, tied for seventh in the league.
Santos, one of the Rangers' top prospects, threw on Wednesday in the finale in Cleveland . Santos finished his two innings with two hits, two earned runs, a walk and a strikeout, leaving him with an ERA of 9.00. He also gave up a home run and threw two wild pitches.
Paddack was signed to a Major League deal on Monday and pitched four innings for the Rangers in a bulk relief role that night. But, Texas designative him for assignment the next day. There was some hope he might take a minor league assignment, but has the service time to refuse it and has pitched for three teams this season.
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This article was originally published on www.si.com/mlb/rangers/onsi as Rangers Select Ben Peoples' Contract as Part of Multiple Transactions .
