The Rangers have agreed to a minor league contract with free agent infielder/outfielder Tyler Wade, reports Aram Leighton of Just Baseball. Presumably, the Paragon Sports International client will be in major league camp as a non-roster invitee next spring.
Wade, who turned 31 a couple weeks ago, has spent the past two seasons in the Padres organization. He’s a versatile but light-hitting utility player who posted a .212/.296/.245 batting line in 283 plate appearances with the Friars and carries a career .216/.294/.284 batting line (65 wRC+) in 992 turns at the plate in the majors. He has above-average speed but doesn’t get on base frequently enough to make great use of that speed. However, he did swipe 17 bags in just 145 plate appearances with the 2021 Yankees — albeit in part due to frequent use as a pinch-runner (7-for-8 in steals during 19 pinch-running appearances).
While Wade has been primarily a middle infielder in his career, he’s also spent plenty of time at third base and has at least 133 innings at each of the three outfield spots. He’s drawn solid marks for his glovework at second base but more tepid results at third base, shortstop and in the outfield.
Texas recently traded Marcus Semien to the Mets and non-tendered Adolis Garcia. While Brandon Nimmo — acquired for Semien — will step into the outfield alongside Wyatt Langford and Evan Carter, Wade provides some veteran depth as a potential backup outfielder and second baseman. He’ll vie for a bench job next spring, competing against Ezequiel Duran, Cody Freeman, Justin Foscue, Sam Haggerty and Michael Helman — among others.