Ivan Rodriguez Reunited With Texas Rangers

Ivan “Pudge” Rodriguez is going back to the team he started with almost 18 years ago.

Today, the Texas Rangers acquired the 14-time All-Star catcher from the Houston Astros for minor league reliever Matt Nevarez and the infamous “Player to be Named Later.”

The Rangers were looking for a backup catcher since they put Jarrod Saltalamacchia on the 15-Day DL on Saturday with a sore right arm. I am guessing the Rangers think Saltalamacchia’s injury might be more serious than first thought because they didn’t waste any time acquiring Rodriguez.

Will this move help the Rangers seal the deal in the AL Wild Card race or help catch the Los Angeles of Anaheim in the AL West? Probably not. Pudge isn’t that type of impact player anymore.

What Pudge will give the Rangers is a solid backup and a guy who has won in Texas before. There aren’t too many players on this Texas team who have won anything in their careers.

Pudge has already been told he will serve as Taylor Teagarden’s backup. A move Pudge was apparently fine with.

Pudge was hitting .251 with eight home runs and 34 RBI in 93 games with the Astros this year.