After a 35-day stint with the Detroit Tigers organization, Bobby Wilson is once again a Texas Ranger.
Wilson was first traded to the Tigers on March 29th along with reliever Myles Jaye for TCU alum and fellow catcher Bryan Holaday, who was to serve as the Rangers' backup to Robinson Chirinos. But Chirinos fouled a Garrett Richards fastball into his forearm on April 9th, suffering a fracture. That injury pressed Holaday into starting duty, and the Rangers called up Brett Nicholas from AAA.
Today's trade sends left-handed pitcher Chad Bell to Detroit for Wilson. Bell is 1-0 in 5 games this year for the Round Rock Express. He has struck out 19 and walked 5 in his 18 innings of work. To make room on the 40-man roster, the Rangers have designated Chris Gimenez for assignment. Gimenez was in Frisco on a rehab assignment recovering from an infection in his leg that required surgery. He was believed to have been on pace to return in the next week or two.
It's a bit of a puzzling move. Nicholas has been more than adequate as a backup-slash-sometimes-starting catcher. If anything, it's Holaday that has struggled. But Holaday does not have minor league options remaining. Gimenez has always struggled a bit at the plate and mightily at the art of throwing out would-be base stealers, but when healthy, he was also the catcher of choice for aces Cole Hamels and Yu Darvish.
When it's all said and done, the sum total of the trade amounts to this: Myles Jaye and Chad Bell for Bryan Holaday, and Chris Gimenez is designated for assignment, which means he will either be traded, lost on waivers, or (if he clears waivers and accepts the assignment) outrighted to the minor leagues.
