Texas Rangers sign Fukumori, designate Shelton
More than two weeks after the Texas Rangers announced they had agreed to a deal with reliever Kazuo Fukumori, he finally officially joined the roster.
It means that first baseman Chris Shelton, acquired in early December, is in limbo. To make room for Fukumori, the Rangers designated Shelton for assignment on Monday. They have 10 days to trade him or, if he clears waivers, to assign him outright to the minor leagues.
The delay in placing Fukumori on the roster was because of Major League Baseball's need to approve some contract language that could turn the two-year deal into a one-year commitment for the Rangers if Fukumori spends 30 days or more on the disabled list this year.
The Rangers had traded expendable outfielder Freddy Guzman for Shelton at the end of the winter meetings to fill their first base vacancy. But a week later they acquired Ben Broussard from Seattle and that made Shelton more insurance than anything else. If Shelton clears waivers, he could be outrighted to Triple-A Oklahoma and then come to camp as a nonroster player competing to be the team's right-handed pinch-hitter and backup first baseman.
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Texas Rangers sign Fukumori, designate Shelton
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