Rangers sign Matt Bush, Zac Curtis, Tim Dillard, Chase d'Arnaud to Minors deals

The Texas Rangers announced the signings of four free agents to minor league contracts on Monday with invitations to major league spring training: pitchers Matt Bush, Zac Curtis, and Tim Dillard, and infielder Chase d'Arnaud.

December 17th, 2018

The Texas Rangers announced the signings of four free agents to minor league contracts on Monday with invitations to major league spring training: pitchers Matt Bush, Zac Curtis, and Tim Dillard, and infielder Chase d'Arnaud (pronounced dar-NO).
Bush became a free agent after he was not tendered a contract offer by Texas on November 30 prior to the non-tender deadline. The right-hander had no record and a 4.70 ERA over 21 relief appearances with the Rangers in 2018, but did not appear in a game after June 14. He underwent season-ending surgery on September 19 to repair a partially torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow. Bush began rehab immediately and is expected to be ready in the second half of 2019.
 
The 26-year-old Curtis was not tendered a contract by the Rangers prior to the non-tender deadline on November 30, which made him a free agent. The left-hander spent the entire month of September with the Rangers after he was received on a waiver claim from Philadelphia on August 7. He allowed 8 R-7 ER over 8 games/6.2 innings with Texas and combined to post a 4.96 ERA in 15 major league games overall for the Rangers and Phillies last season.
 
d'Arnaud, who turns 32 on January 21, had his contract purchased by San Francisco on July 7 and spent the remainder of the season with the Giants, batting .215 with 3 home runs and 9 RBI in 42 games. He spent the balance of the season with Triple-A Sacramento, earning mid-season All-Star honors in the Pacific Coast League while posting a .915 OPS in 76 games. d'Arnaud made his MLB debut with the Pirates in 2011 and has appeared in 236 big league games with Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Boston, San Diego, and San Francisco. He has appeared at every position in the major leagues except catcher, including his lone outing as a pitcher this past season with the Giants.
 
Right-handed pitcher Tim Dillard has spent his entire 16-year professional career in the Milwaukee Brewers organization. The 35-year-old has appeared with Triple-A Colorado Springs in each of the last four seasons, including 25 games/one start in 2018. Dillard logged 73 relief appearances over parts of four seasons with the Brewers from 2008-12, compiling a 4.70 ERA (44 ER/84.1 IP) in his MLB career.