Neues » Joe Saunders

SURPRISE, Ariz. -- Joe Saunders was the opposing pitcher who helped end the Texas Rangers last playoff appearance two seasons ago. Now the veteran left-hander will get a chance to earn a spot in the Texas rotation after finalizing a one-year contract that guarantees him the $500,000 minimum. Saunderss salary would increase to $1.5 million if he makes the team. He can earn performance bonuses in addition to his salary under the deal completed Tuesday. With injured lefty Derek Holland expected to be out at least half the season after knee surgery, Saunders joined the team in Arizona on Wednesday to provide another potential starting option. "I feel like Im right on track," said Saunders, who had been throwing bullpen sessions on his own. Saunders has an 89-81 career record with a 4.30 ERA in 221 games, all starts with the Los Angeles Angels (2005-10), Arizona (2010-12), Baltimore (2012) and Seattle (2013). The 32-year-old lefty was 11-16 with a career-high 5.26 ERA in 32 starts last season before Seattle declined his 2014 option. In the 2012 AL wild-card game at Texas, Saunders allowed one run over 5 2-3 innings in Baltimores 5-1 victory over Texas. Before that playoff victory, Saunders had lost his six previous starts and had a 9.38 ERA in games in Texas. He was 1-1 with a 6.35 ERA there in two starts for Seattle last season when he allowed 19 hits and nine runs in 11 1-3 innings. "I love the ballpark. I think it was more a factor of the lineup than the ballpark," Saunders said. "Its nice to be able to get on the good side of things." Infielder-outfielder Alex Castellanos was designated for assignment to make room on the Rangers major league roster. The Rangers have 10 days to trade, release or outright Castellanos to the minor leagues. He was claimed on waivers from Boston in December and was 3 for 9 in five games this spring training. Steve Cishek Cubs Jersey . The Swiss won on the fastest run-time tiebreaker after the four-racer teams tied 2-2. Wendy Holdener and Reto Schmidiger won their final heats against Julia Mancuso and Tim Jitloff, respectively. Andre Dawson Jersey . Some teams got significantly better, some teams divested themselves of talent and some teams had quiet afternoons, keeping the status quo. http://www.thecubsteamshop.com/Cubs-Greg-Maddux-Kids-Jersey/. The flanker began his comeback from a right shoulder injury by coming off the bench on Saturday when Wales opened with a victory over Italy. Warburton replaces Justin Tipuric, one of three changes announced on Tuesday by coach Warren Gatland. Kris Bryant Jersey . Four years after winning gold on home ice in Vancouver, the Canadians will get a chance to make it two in a row Sunday against Sweden after beating the United States 1-0 in the Olympic semifinals Friday at Bolshoy Ice Dome. Brad Brach Cubs Jersey . -- Gary Harris gave No.The Dallas Stars signed goaltender Jussi Rynnas to a two-year contract on Monday. Rynnas had a record of 28-5-7 in 40 regular season games with Karpat of the Finnish Elite League (Liiga) last season. Rynnas led all Liiga goaltenders with a 1.51 goals against average and a .939 save percentage, while he finished second in the league with nine shutouts and third with 28 wins. He also appeared in three postseason games with Karpat, posting an 0-3-0 record with a 2.57 GAA and an .881 SV% as his club went on to win the 2014 Liiga championship. The 27-year-old has appeared in three career regular season NHL gammes for the Toronto Maple Leafs, going 0-1-0 and stopping 39 shots for an .dddddddddddd.848 SV% and a 3.85 GAA. Rynnas also spent three seasons with the Toronto Marlies of the American Hockey League (AHL) from 2010-13. In his three AHL seasons, the goaltender earned a career record of 31-33-5 with a 2.64 GAA and a .910 SV% with eight shutouts in 73 regular-season games with the Marlies. In addition to his time in the AHL, Rynnas spent part of the 2011-12 campaign with the Reading Royals of the ECHL, posting an 8-5-1 record with a 3.21 GAA and a .914 SV% with one shutout in 14 games with the club. ' ' '