Rangers non-tender Ogando as Lewis deal close

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The Texas Rangers have cut ties with former All-Star Alexi Ogando as well as left-hander Michael Kirkman and infielder Adam Rosales.

The decision to not tender contracts to the trio makes them free agents and puts the Rangers at 37 players on their 40-man roster.

One of those vacant spots should be filled later this week as general manager Jon Daniels said he expects a deal with right-hander Colby Lewis to be completed.

Ogando, 31, missed four month of the 2014 season with right elbow inflammation and had a 6.84 ERA in his 27 games with the Rangers.  He was originally slated to pitch in the Dominican Republic in the winter but that plan was scrapped, leaving the Rangers in the position of having to offer him a deal without seeing him pitch in a game since June 3.

The club didn't want to take that risk and pay Ogando.

"For where we are and everything, the uncertainly of it, we expressed some interest in Alexi to discuss a deal outside the tender process," general manager Jon Daniels said. "His feeling was if we weren't going to tender him he wanted to see what was out there."

Ogando made his debut for Texas in 2010 and was 28-16 in 183 appearances for the Rangers. Ogando made the All-Star team in 2011 as a starter and also had 18 postseason appearances for Texas, posting a 2.37 ERA in the playoffs.

Kirkman, 28, was drafted by the Rangers in 2005 and bounced between Texas and Triple A for the last five seasons. He made just 12 appearances with the Rangers as a lefty specialist in 2014, going 0-1 with a 1.59 ERA.

Rosales also bounced between Texas and Round Rock in 2014, hitting .262 with four homers and 19 RBI in his 56 games with the Rangers. The club made an offer to Rosales but he opted to test the market. That doesn't mean his time with the Rangers is done though.

"We like Adam, what he brings to the club, we would welcome him back," Daniels said. "We'll stay in touch."

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