Shawn Tolleson began 2016 as the Rangers closer and ends it off the major league roster.
The Rangers on Tuesday outrighted Tolleson and right-hander Lucas Harrell off the 40-man roster after both cleared waivers. Both had been on the 60-day DL. Both pitchers are eligible to decline the assignments to the minor leagues and declare free agency.
For Tolleson, it is just another gut-punch in a year that has been full of them. He lost the closer's job in mid-May after suffering back-to-back blown saves, then left the club for a week to tend to his father, who was dealing with cancer. He was eventually sent to the minors and wound up on the disabled list with a lower back sprain that knocked him out of the final two months of the year.
It also means that Tolleson will likely take a significant pay cut for 2017. Tolleson earned $3.28 million in his first year of salary arbitration in 2016. Unless he signs a major league contract with somebody, which is unlikely after the back injury, he will not be part of the arbitration process.
Tolleson finished the season 2-2 with 11 saves in 15 opportunities and a 7.68 ERA in 37 appearances.
Harrell, acquired from Atlanta in a deal that sent former first-rounder Travis Demeritte to the Braves, made four starts for the Rangers in late July and August. He was placed on the DL with a strained groin in mid-August and then transferred to the 60-day DL.
