Back in December the Rangers signed 42 year-old Jose Contereas to a minor league deal. After a lackluster spring trianing they have informed him, however, that he will not make the Opening Day roster.
This could very well be the end of the line for Contreras, who pitched only five innings for the Pirates in 2013 after coming back from Tommy John elbow surgery. He was somewhat effective in the minors while rehabbing, but that’s probably because the guy has more veteran guile and smarts in his little finger than all of the Triple-A hitters have collectively. It’s questionable whether, at his age, he can still get it done in the majors.
Which, however inevitable this is, is sad. Contreras is so fun to watch. One hopes that, if his big league career is over, he pitches until he’s, like, 55 in various independent or foreign leagues.