Rangers add pair of lefties to 40-man

ARLINGTON -- Rangers general manager Jon Daniels was in Arizona on Thursday watching left-handed pitcher Matt Harrison in the Arizona Fall League.

As of Wednesday night, Harrison was just one of three left-handed pitchers on the Rangers' Major League roster. But the Rangers picked up two more left-handers on Wednesday when Michael Kirkman and Zachary Phillips were added to the Major League roster. Of the two, Phillips probably has the best chance of having an impact on the Major League staff in the near future.

Phillips, was a 23rd round draft-and-follow selection in the 2004 First-Year Player Draft and was moved to the bullpen this season to take advantage of his breaking ball and three-quarters arm angle. He flourished in the role and earned a spot on the 40-man roster.

Phillips, 23, was a combined 2-3 with four saves and a 1.39 ERA in 36 games, including three starts, combined for Class A Bakersfield and Double-A Frisco. He struck out 75 batters in 77 2/3 innings and walked 30 while holding opponents to a .163 batting average. Left-handed hitters batted .137 off him.

"Zach has really taken to the role in the bullpen and had an outstanding year," Daniels said. "He's got three pitches and has started in the past but his breaking ball and arm angle really helps him against left-handers. He's athletic, he fields his position well and he really controls the running game."

The Rangers only have one left-handed reliever on the Major League roster in C.J. Wilson and they've talked about moving him to the rotation. Irregardless, Texas will likely be looking for another situational left-hander for its bullpen.

"Anybody who is in big league camp is going to get a look so I wouldn't rule anything out," Daniels said.

Kirkman is being developed as a starter and he was 9-8 with a 3.48 ERA in 26 games, including 25 starts, between Bakersfield and Frisco. In 144 2/3 innings, he walked 61, struck out 118 and held opponents to a .251 average.

Kirkman, a fifth-round pick out of Columbia High in Lake City, Fla., in 2005, was 5-4 with a 3.84 ERA in Class A in '08.

"Michael is probably one of the most improved pitchers in our organization over the past 24 months," Daniels said. "He's a big physical left-hander with above-average stuff and he has been able to take it deeper into games."

Kirkman and Phillips will both be in Spring Training with the Rangers and the club announced that pitchers and catchers report on Feb. 18. The first exhibition game is on March 4 against the Royals.

By putting Kirkman and Phillips on the roster, the Rangers also protect them from the Rule 5 Draft at next month's Winter Meetings.

Any players who signed at age 19 or older and have been in the organization for at least four years must be added to the Major League roster or can be taken by another organization in the Rule 5 Draft. Players who signed at 18 or younger and have been in the organization at least five years are also eligible to be drafted.

Foremost among the Rangers' unprotected players is outfielder/first baseman Chad Tracy, who hit .279 with 26 home runs and 107 RBIs at Double-A Frisco. Other players who might attract interest include pitchers Beau Jones and Fabio Castillo, third baseman John Whittleman and outfielder David Paisano.

Castillo was once a highly regarded prospect but has not developed as quickly as expected and was 3-6 with a 4.05 ERA in 38 relief appearances and two starts at Class A Hickory. Whittleman, the Rangers' second-round pick in 2005, hit .224 with ten home runs and 57 RBIs in 127 games at Double-A Frisco.

Jones is another left-handed reliever who was 4-4 with a 3.57 ERA between Bakersfield and Frisco. He is the only one of five players acquired from the Braves for Mark Teixeira and Ron Mahay who has yet to make the Major Leagues.

Paisano, speaking of obscure trade trivia, was the second player acquired from the White Sox in the Brandon McCarthy trade in the winter of 2006-07. He is considered a superior defensive outfielder with excellent speed but has not hit well enough to progress beyond the Class A level.

Any player taken in the Rule 5 Draft must remain on the 25-man Major League roster for an entire season or be offered back to their former team.