« Weekend Photo | Main | Reviewing the Ranger Lineup: #8 Hitters »
November 18, 2005
40-Man Roster Additions
Texas added 2B Ian Kinsler, SS Joaquin Arias, and pitchers Wes Littleton and Omar Beltre to the 40-man roster.
Texas drafted the 23-year-old Kinsler as a shortstop in the 17th round in 2003. Kinsler has jumped a level each year in the minors; last year he batted .274/.348/.464 with 23 homers and 19 steals at AAA Oklahoma. Right now he’s blocked by Alfonso Soriano and probably will repeat in AAA unless Texas moves Fonzie.
Arias came to Texas along with Soriano for some guy named Alex Rodriguez. Statistically, he hasn’t displayed too much with the bat besides a lofty batting average, but one can’t complain about someone who batted .315/.335/.423 in AA as a 20-year-old. 2006 guess: starting in AA with a promotion to AAA upon quality results.
23-year-old Littleton posted an ERA of 4.15 with mostly mediocre peripherals in high-A in 2004. Promoted to AA and converted to full-time relief in 2005, he lowered his ERA only to 3.97 but improved both his strikeout and walk rates. I think Texas will push him up to AAA to begin the season.
The wild card is Beltre, whose visa problems trapped him in the Dominican Republic throughout 2005. Beltre electrified the California League in 2004 as a reliever, tossing up a 2.45 ERA with 47 Ks and just one home allowed in 59 innings. On the downside, he’s now 24 and has yet to play beyond high-A. I suppose he’ll start 2006 in AA assuming the authorities permit his return to American soil.
Texas opted not to add 2002 first-rounder Drew Meyer (UT), 2003 second-rounder Vince Sinisi (OF), 2003 third-rounder John Hudgins (P), and former 40 members Nick Masset (P) and Ruddy Yan (OF).
Posted by Lucas at November 18, 2005 07:06 PM