The Rangers have designated Dane Dunning for assignment to clear a roster spot for catcher Tucker Barnhart
The Texas Rangers have apparently purchased the contract of veteran catcher Tucker Barnhart from AAA Round Rock. To make room for Barnhart on the active and 40 man roster, the Rangers have designated pitcher Dane Dunning for assignment.
Catcher Kyle Higashioka is dealing with a hamstring issue, per the beats, and so is unavailable and may be headed to the injured list. The Rangers don’t have another catcher on the 40 man roster, so they’re opting to purchase the contract of Barnhart. Barnhart, 34, split the 2024 season between the AAA team for the Cincinnati Reds, the organization he’s spent most of his career with, and the Arizona Diamondbacks’ major league club. As a D-Back, he hit .173/.287/.210 in 96 plate appearances, after slashing .202/.285/.257 the year before in 123 plate appearances for the Cubs. He is slashing .246/.354/.391 so far this season for Round Rock.
As for Dunning, well, he picked up a three inning save yesterday, and now has to be waived, traded or released. If he clears waivers he could be outrighted, but he has the right to reject an outright assignment and become a free agent. However, if Dunning were to elect free agency, he does not have enough service time to be paid the remaining amount of his 2025 salary from the Rangers.