Tejeda could provide help soon to the rotation of the Rangers,
but was optioned to Triple-A Oklahoma when they finalized their
25-man roster.
After announcing the trade, general manager Jon Daniels said No.
2 starter Adam Eaton will have surgery to repair the tendon in the
middle finger of his pitching hand. The surgery was tentatively
scheduled Tuesday and the right-hander, placed on the 15-day
disabled list, could be out three months.
Tejeda was 4-3 with a 3.57 ERA in 26 games (13 starts) for the
Phillies last season. The Rangers said he pitched four innings in a
minor league game Saturday and then flew to Boston to be with his
wife for the birth of a child. With his availability uncertain,
Texas will start him in Oklahoma, meaning he can't join the Rangers
for at least 10 days.
"He's 24 years old, a power pitcher. We look at him as a
starter," Daniels said. "He has a plus fastball, and had some
success in the major leagues last year."
Dellucci played in 235 games over the past two seasons in Texas,
and had quickly become a fan favorite. He hit .251 with a
career-high 29 homers and 65 RBI last season, when he also drew a
career-best 76 walks as the primary leadoff hitter.
"David's my best friend on the team, a great teammate, a great
player," first baseman Mark Teixeira said. "Everyone's going to
miss him. I guess you can never have too much pitching, but it's
tough to lose David."
The acquisition of Dellucci gives the Phillies five outfielders
and completes their 25-man roster. Philadelphia was going to enter
the season with only Shane Victorino behind starters Pat Burrell,
Aaron Rowand and Bobby Abreu.
Dellucci had already left the clubhouse after the Rangers played
their final spring training game, a 6-4 victory over Florida.
Texas had acquired left-handers John Koronka and John Rheinecker
in a three-team deal with the Chicago Cubs and Oakland on Friday.
Koronka (1-2 with 7.47 ERA in four games for the Cubs last season)
made the 25-man roster and likely will start the fifth game
Thursday against Kansas City. Tejeda could join the team by time
that spot comes up the second time.
Daniels said Tejeda was a pitcher the Rangers had inquired about
early in the spring.
"He's somebody that we think can help us," Daniels said. "We
got a quality pitcher and added a nice prospect."
Eaton was on the disabled list twice with the same injury while
with the San Diego Padres last season. The Rangers acquired Eaton
in a trade this winter.
Blalock, 22, is the younger brother of Rangers two-time All-Star
third baseman Hank Blalock. Jake Blalock hit .279 with 11 home runs
and 65 RBI at Single-A Clearwater last season.
Veteran infielder Tomas Perez and career minor leaguer Chris
Coste were competing for the final spot on Philadelphia's roster.
One of them still could make the team if third baseman David Bell
starts the season on the disabled list. Bell, who had missed most
of spring training with a back injury, went 4-for-5 with a homer in
an exhibition game Saturday, and will test his back again Sunday.
Coste, a catcher/corner infielder, is hitting .463 (19-for-41)
with three homers and 11 RBI this spring. Coste, 33, has spent 11
seasons in the minor leagues, including five years playing in the
independent Northern League.
Perez, who spent the last six seasons with the Phillies, became
expendable when the team signed infielders Abraham Nunez and Alex
Gonzalez in the offseason. Perez already has cleared waivers.
Notes
Texas OF Gary Matthews Jr. (strained ribcage) was placed on
the 15-day DL, a move retroactive to March 24. ... The Rangers
completed their 25-man roster with several moves. They purchased
the contracts of RHP Antonio Alfonseca, OF Adrian Brown and INF
D'Angelo Jimenez. LHP Erasmo Ramirez was designated for assignment.
Rheinecker was optioned to Triple-A Oklahoma and OF Adam Hyzdu
assigned to minor league camp. RHP Omar Beltre, who never made it
to spring training from the Dominican Republic, was placed on the
restricted list.
