Ramirez & Rapada Designated for Assignment

Today, Arthur Rhodes and Brandon Webb signed their one-year contracts with the Rangers, finalizing their respective deals.

To make room for Rhodes and Webb on the 40-man roster, Texas designated catcher Max Ramirez and relief pitcher Clay Rapada for assignment. The Rangers now have have 10 days to trade, release, or outright Ramirez and Rapada to the minors.

Max Ramirez is a .217 hitter over parts of two seasons in Texas but hit .286 for AAA-Oklahoma City in 2010. Once highly thought of within the Rangers Organization, Ramirez's lack on consistency at the plate and less-than-marginal arm behind the plate have dropped him below other internal catching prospects like Jose Felix and Taylor Teagarden.

Rapada, a September call-up, recorded 3 Holds over the last month of the season and showed enough to be included on the Rangers Post Season roster. However, the side-winding lefty was also unlikely to make the Rangers Opening Day roster, as Texas is lefty-heavy in their bullpen with Darren Oliver, Arthur Rhodes and possibly Derek Holland having spots essentially locked up.

Of the two, my hope is that Texas can find a way to retain Rapada. Ramirez has been given every opportunity to make a statement but has done little to impress. Rapada, on the other hand, showed flashes late in the season and has pitched very well the past two seasons in AAA.