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October 06, 2004
Transaction
Claimed pitcher RYAN WING off waivers from Chiacgo (AL). Designated outfielder CHAD ALLEN, catcher KEN HUCKABY and pitcher MICHAEL TEJERA for assignment.
Ryan Wing was the White Sox 2nd round pick (71st overall) in 2001. The former Riverside Community College student pitched reasonably well in low-A in 2002 and high-A in 2003 (combined 3.37 ERA, 15 homers allowed in 269 IP, 7.29 K/9, but a questionable 4.3 BB/9). Wing missed all of 2004 with tendinitis in his throwing shoulder. Wing actually had an outside shot at the Sox rotation in Spring 2004, but he was optioned to AA and tendinitis in his throwing shoulder prevented him from pitching a single inning. He's lefthanded and won't turn 23 until next February, hence, he's a prospect. Chicago added him to their 40-man roster after 2003 and burned his first option in 2004. Texas might not keep him around depending on who among their own prospects they plan to protect this winter.
Allen played the role of organizational soldier perfectly, hitting the hell out of the ball in AAA while having three short, less successful stints for the Rangers. Texas has DFA'ed him four times in 2004. He has a decent chance to catch on as a fifth outfielder somewhere in 2005 and avoid having to carry his own luggage.
An injury to Gerald Laird earned Huckaby the right to rot on the Ranger bench for a while. At 33 and with a .140/.218/.200 line to his credit, Huckaby won't be more than AAA filler in 2005.
Tejera is a 27-year-old lefty who had shown some promise with Florida, and Texas was wise to claim him in September. Unfortunately, he pitched dreadfully for the Rangers (13.50 ERA, 24 baserunners in 9.1 IP) and will be looking at an NRI somewhere else next spring.
Posted by Lucas at October 6, 2004 03:50 PM