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Subject: Dellucci traded to Phillies for pitching
Time: 10:19:00 AM CDT
Author: lrpatton
ARLINGTON -- After finding out that pitcher Adam Eaton will be out three months with a finger injury, the Rangers made a major move Saturday and sent starting left fielder David Dellucci to Philadelphia for 24-year-old right-handed pitcher Robinson Tejeda and outfielder Jake Blalock.
Blalock is the younger brother of Rangers third baseman Hank Blalock.
It was the third trade in two days for the Rangers, and they have acquired a pitcher each time.
The Rangers found out Saturday that Eaton will undergo surgery, possibly as early as Tuesday, to repair his finger and it will be at least 12 weeks before he is ready.
"The Eaton injury changed the dynamics of what we were working with," said Rangers general manager Jon Daniels. "Tejeda was a guy we asked about in the past. We had some discussion early in the spring. We think he's somebody who can help us. With Adam out, we wanted to increase our upper-level pitching with guys that can help us this year."
Tejeda will go to Triple A Oklahoma for at least one start before joining the Rangers. Last year in Philadelphia, his first in the major leagues, he pitched in 26 games, started 13 and had a 3.57 ERA. He also was picked by the Dominican Republic to play in the World Baseball Classic, which Daniels said was impressive.
"That says something," Daniels said, "because they obviously know their players."
Dellucci said he was devastated by the trade.
"Disappointed, angry ... frustrated," he said. "I say angry because I feel so close to the guys on the team, and I feel good about what we had going on that I wanted to be a part of it. ... I even passed up a chance to play [for Italy] in the World Baseball Classic because of that."
With Dellucci gone, Brad Wilkerson will move to left field and Laynce Nix will be in center field. Gary Matthews Jr., who has been out with a strained rib cage muscle, will go to Oklahoma for a rehab assignment and could join the team soon. Adrian Brown, a nonroster invitee, also made the team as an outfielder.
Tejeda threw four innings in a minor league game Saturday and then flew to Boston to be with his wife for the birth of their child. The Rangers won't know his travel schedule until today, which is the reason he will go to Oklahoma for at least one start.
The Rangers acquired John Koronka from the Cubs on Friday and said he was their fifth starter. Koronka probably will get at least one start against Detroit on Friday, but Tejeda is clearly the player intended to replace Eaton.
Blalock was assigned to Double A Frisco.
A winning end
The Rangers beat the Marlins 6-4 in Arlington to end spring training with a 12-16-1 record. R.A. Dickey started and had a good outing with the exception of the third inning, when he gave up two hits, a walk and then a grand slam to Miguel Cabrera.
The Rangers scored five runs in the first inning on home runs by Brad Wilkerson, Mark Teixeira and Mark DeRosa. Wilkerson also homered in the second inning.
Briefly
The Rangers announced that infielder D'Angelo Jimenez and reliever Antonio Alfonseca made the team. They were nonroster invitees to spring training.
The Rangers also kept Fabio Castro, the 21-year-old left-hander who is a Rule V player. He had to start the season on the major league roster or the Rangers would have risked losing him to waivers.
Adam Eaton on deciding to have surgery: "I can't pitch with it injured. If you take time to heal it without surgery there's always the risk of it cropping up again."
Outfielder Adam Hyzdu was sent to Oklahoma and pitcher Erasmo Ramirez was designated for assignment.
Pitcher John Rheinecker, obtained in the Juan Dominguez trade Friday, was sent to Oklahoma.
Buck Showalter said Gary Matthews Jr. is improving and is expected to start in the outfield when Oklahoma opens its season on Thursday.
Reliever Jose Silva decided to remain with the organization and report to Oklahoma. Silva has an offer to pitch in the Mexican League, but if he stays, he might have a better chance to pitch for the Rangers this season.
Staff writer Kat O'Brien contributed to this report.
IN THE KNOW
Welcome aboard
The Rangers traded outfielder David Dellucci to the Phillies for pitcher Robinson Tejeda and outfield prospect Jake Blalock. A look at the new Rangers:
Robinson Tejeda, RHP, 6-3, 190: Was 4-3 with a 3.57 ERA in 85 2/3 innings as a rookie with the Phillies in 2005.
Jake Blalock, OF, 6-4, 215: The younger brother of Hank batted .279 with 11 homers and 65 RBI in 134 games at Class A Clearwater last season.
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