Ex-Red Sox Champion Reportedly DFA'd By Rangers After Tumultuous Start To Season

Texas reportedly designated a former member of the Red Sox for assignment

Patrick McAvoy | Jun 15, 2023

Ex-Red Sox Champion Reportedly DFA'd By Rangers After Tumultuous Start To Season /

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A former member of the Boston Red Sox will be looking for a new club shortly after a disappointing start to the 2023 season.

Former Red Sox catcher Sandy Leon reportedly was designated for assignment by the Texas Rangers on Wednesday according to the Dallas Morning News' Evan Grant.

Leon has been a journeyman throughout his professional career and signed with the Rangers ahead of the 2023 campaign to a minor league contract. The catcher was released by the club in March but re-signed to a second minor league deal. The 34-year-old started with the Triple-A Round Rock Express and slashed .273/.467/.273 in four games before being called up to the Rangers.

The 34-year-old struggled to open the season for Texas and slashed .146/.186/.195 in 21 games and now will look for a new home. Now that Leon has been designated for assignment the club will have one week to find a trade partner or teams can place a waiver claim on him. If neither of those options happens, Leon will become a free agent and have the ability to sign with any club.

Leon likely will end up with another club on a minor league deal after racking up 12 years of big league experience. The 34-year-old began his big-league career with the Washington Nationals in 2012 and played for the club for three seasons. Leon joined the Red Sox ahead of the 2015 campaign and remained with the club through the end of the 2019 season. While with Boston, he helped lead the club to the 2018 World Series. Since leaving Boston, Leon has spent time with the Cleveland Guardians, Miami Marlins, Minnesota Twins, and now this season the Rangers.

In his career, Leon has slashed .208/.276/.311 to go along with 31 home runs and 149 RBIs across 554 games played. Hopefully, he's able to latch on with another club and work his way back up to the big leagues.

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Published Jun 15, 2023

PATRICK MCAVOY

Patrick McAvoy's experiences include local and national sports coverage at the New England Sports Network with a focus on baseball and basketball. Outside of journalism, Patrick also is pursuing an MBA at Brandeis University. After quickly rising as one of the most productive writers on the site, he expanded his reach to write for Baseball Essential, a national baseball site in Sports Illustrated Media Group. For all business/marketing inquiries regarding Inside The Cardinals, please reach out to Scott Neville: nevilles@merrimack.edu