Rangers designate Logan Verrett for assignment, Mets could get pitcher back

The Texas Rangers have designated right-handed pitcher Logan Verrett for assignment to make room for left-handed veteran pitcher Wandy Rodriguez. The 24-year-old Verrett was drafted by the Mets in the third round of the 2011 draft, the first under Sandy Alderson and Paul DePodesta. He spent his first professional season in Single-A Savannah and High-A St. Lucie before playing for Double-A Binghamton in 2013 and Triple-A Las Vegas last year.

Along the way, Verrett's greatest strength has been limiting walks. For his minor league career, he has issued just 1.7 free passes per nine innings. Our own Jeff Paternostro wrote up Verrett after the 2013 season after seeing him pitch for Binghamton that year. In making his major league debut for the Rangers on April 8, Verrett became the first Mets draft pick under Alderson to make it to the big leagues, edging out Danny Muno and Kevin Plawecki, both of whom have debuted with the Mets since then.

In four games with the Rangers, Verrett had a 6.00 ERA with three strikeouts and four walks in 9.0 innings of work. The Rangers can trade him now, but as a Rule 5 pick, the rules that stipulate a team must keep him on the major league roster all year to retain him beyond 2015 still apply. If he is not traded, he'll hit waivers, and if he clears waivers, he has to be offered back to the Mets.