Texas Rangers Sign Former Outfielder To Minor-League Deal As Pitcher

The Texas Rangers have brought back DJ Peters, along with three other players, on minor-league deals.

The Texas Rangers announced the signing of four more players to minor-league contracts, including a former outfielder who now intends to pitch.

DJ Peters, an outfielder who played 52 games for the Rangers in 2021, signed a deal that will bring him to minor league spring training in Surprise, Ariz., as a pitcher.

The other three players signed minor-league deals with invitations to Major League spring training — pitchers Danny Duffy and Chasen Shreve, along with catcher José Godoy.

Peters batted .191 with the Rangers in 2021. Texas claimed him off waivers from the Los Angeles Dodgers. After the Rangers released him, he split the 2022 season between the Lotte Giants of the Korea Baseball Organization and Triple-A Rochester in the Minnesota Twins system.

In 2023, he joined the Detroit Tigers system and tried pitching with their Rookie-level Florida Complex League Tigers. He went 1-0 with a 6.23 ERA, 24 strikeouts and 27 walks over 17 relief appearances.

Peters was originally a 2016 fourth-round pick of the Los Angeles Dodgers. 

Duffy made 28 relief appearances for Rangers minor-league affiliates Frisco (AA) and Round Rock (AAA) in 2023, going 2-2 with a 3.28 ERA (13 ER/35.2 IP). He didn't make a Major League appearance. 

In 11 seasons with Kansas City, he was 68-68 with a 3.95 ERA. He played with Rangers general manager Chris Young on the Royals' 2015 World Series championship team.

Godoy split last season between Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and Triple-A Norfolk, affiliates of the New York Yankees and Baltimore Orioles organizations. He combined to slash .267/.356/.397/.753 (31-116) with four homers, three doubles, and 14 RBI in 36 games. He's a .123 hitter in the Majors, with appearances in Seattle, Minnesota and Pittsburgh. 

Shreve went 1-2 with a 4.63 ERA last season in 50 relief appearances with Detroit and Cincinnati. He's played in the Majors each of the last 10 seasons and has a 22-14 record with a 3.97 ERA in 367 relief appearances with seven different teams. 

With today’s additions, the Rangers’ spring training roster has 67 players: a full 40-man roster along with 27 non-roster invitees.

Nathaniel Lowe, Rangers Relish Fan Love