Rangers Sign Two to Minor-League Deals

The Texas Rangers are inviting Joe McCarthy to Major League camp for a second straight spring.

The Texas Rangers announced the signing of two players — both to minor-league contracts — as they continue to build depth for spring training.

They are outfielder Joe McCarthy and catcher/first baseman Ryan Gold. McCarthy will be a non-roster invitee to Major League spring training, while Gold will go directly to minor-league camp.

This announcement came a day after the Rangers reportedly agreed to a minor-league deal with right-hander Kyle Funkhouser. That agreement was not announced Friday.

The Rangers also announced that pitcher Nick Mears, who was cut to make room for new pitcher Nathan Eovaldi, signed with Colorado.

McCarthy’s agreement with the Rangers was reported in December. He was with the Rangers in spring training last offseason but failed to make the team. He spent the 2022 season playing with the Orix Buffaloes of Nippon Professional Baseball. He played in 59 games and batted .225 with seven doubles, one triple and four home runs and 19 RBI.

McCarthy played with the San Francisco Giants in the COVID-shortened 2020 season. He made the Opening Day roster and started in right field. But he played in just four games and failed to get a hit in 10 at-bats before he was designated for assignment.

Gold was a 26th-round pick by the Toronto Blue Jays in 2016. He played last season with the New Hampshire Fisher Cats, the Blue Jays’ Double-A affiliate. He batted .214/.313/.445/.758 with 10 home runs and 29 RBI.

Funkhouser spent 2020 and 2021 with the Detroit Tigers, where he finished with an 8-5 record in 70 appearances, with just two starts. He had a 4.20 ERA.

Funkhouser spent the 2022 season on the injured list, first the 10-day injured list and later the 60-day injured list with what was initially called a right shoulder strain. He later has surgery that ended his season. The Tigers non-tendered him in November, allowing him to hit free agency.

The Tigers drafted Funkhouser in the fourth round of the 2016 MLB Draft out of Louisville.

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