Craig

Gentry

Gentry’s agent Bob Garber shared that news with MLBTradeRumors.com on Thursday morning. The 35-year-old outfielder signed a minor league contract with the Rockies on April 13 but appeared in only three games with the club’s Triple-A affiliate in Albuquerque before deciding to call it quits. He finishes with 325 career major league hits spread over 10 seasons.

Gentry was in camp with the Giants but didn’t make the team and was released. He’ll give the Rockies veteran outfield depth.

Gentry, 35, is career .262/.333/.339 hitter over parts of 10 major league seasons but hasn’t accumulated even 200 plate appearances in a big league season since 2014. Even with the Giants’ outfield in the sad state that it’s in, that streak will surely continue.

With the Rays sending electric young lefty Matt Moore to the hill this afternoon, the right-handed hitting Gentry gets the call over southpaws David Murphy and Endy Chavez. Murphy hit just .215/.274/.234 against lefties this season. Gentry hit .271/.347/.346 in 133 at-bats across 64 games, and .265/.338/.397 against left-handers.

Craig Gentry and Endy Chavez could be used as late-inning defensive replacements should Hamilton’s sore groin impact him enough to concern manager Ron Washington. With Yorvit Torrealba scheduled to start at catcher, Mike Napoli will move to first base or DH. However, if Hamilton were to DH, Michael Young would be forced to come off the bench, though the Rangers appear optimistic that the injury will not significantly alter their lineup.

“He’s playing the outfield,” Washington said. “I read where people wanted me to put him on the bench. They wanted him on the bench, out [of] the lineup. We’ve got five games left. I’m playing Josh. I’m not changing anything.” Hamilton was in the lineup for Game 2 and had a sacrifice fly in the ninth inning but admitted that he’s playing at less than 100 percent. Craig Gentry could see innings as a defensive replacement but nothing more as the series gets to Arlington.

They are batting eighth and ninth, respectively, against left-handed pitcher David Price. Mike Napoli is at first base, hitting seventh. Torrealba is batting just .225/.289/.275 this season, relegating him to relevancy in only the deepest of AL-only formats.

The Rangers have wanted to move Hamilton to a corner outfield spot permanently for a couple years now in order to save his legs, and they came to camp with Craig Gentry, Julio Borbon and Leonys Martin competing for the center field job. But, none of them took advantage, so Hamilton will man center for the time being, with David Murphy and Gentry likely to form a platoon in left field. Hamilton is currently nursing a minor groin injury but is expected to be fine.

No word on the exact nature of the injury, but Gentry has dealt with shoulder and wrist injuries in the past. Julio Borbon could have a clear path to the starting center field job if he is forced to miss an extended period of time.

Gentry suffered the injury while attempting to make a diving catch during Tuesday’s game against the Indians. The timeline for his return isn’t yet clear.