The Texas Rangers made a series of roster moves on Wednesday, headlined by the decision to designate outfielder Dairon Blanco for assignment while selecting the contract of veteran Andrew McCutchen from Triple-A Round Rock, a move that clears a spot on the 40-man roster for McCutchen.
In additional moves, left-hander Cody Bradford was placed on the 15-day Injured List as he continues to rehab from elbow surgery, and infielder Cody Freeman landed on the 10-day IL due to a lumbar stress reaction.
Advertisement
While reports earlier in the week indicated McCutchen had made the Opening Day roster, Wednesday’s transaction clarifies how the Rangers created space. Blanco, 33, had only recently been claimed off waivers from the Kansas City Royals, but ultimately became the odd man out in a crowded outfield picture.
A speed-first player, Blanco’s value lies in late-game defense and baserunning. However, with Evan Carter healthy and joined by established contributors like Brandon Nimmo and Wyatt Langford, opportunities at the major-league level were expected to be limited.
McCutchen, 39, now projects to fill a more defined role as a designated hitter. At this stage of his career, his defensive days in the outfield are likely behind him, but his offensive profile still offers value — particularly against left-handed pitching.
He is expected to factor into a platoon with Joc Pederson, giving the Rangers a matchup-based option at DH.
Advertisement
Though McCutchen is no longer the MVP-caliber player he once was, underlying metrics suggest he can still contribute.
According to Baseball Savant data, he remains above average in expected weighted on-base average (xwOBA), while hovering around league average in categories like exit velocity, barrel rate, and hard-hit percentage. His ability to get on base continues to stand out, making him a viable table-setter in the lineup.
Signed on March 5, McCutchen also turned heads during spring training. In a limited sample of 21 at-bats, he hit .429 with an impressive .556 on-base percentage. While Spring numbers come with caution, they reinforced the belief that he can still produce in a specialized role.
For Texas, the move reflects a clear preference for experience and on-base ability as they finalize their roster ahead of Opening Day.
Advertisement
Don’t miss out on our ROUNDTABLE community and the latest news!
It’s completely free to join. Share your thoughts, engage with our Roundtable writers, and chat with fellow members.
Download the free Roundtable APP, and stay even more connected!