The Rangers have re-signed 25-year old righty swinging 2B/3B/OF Yangervis Solarte to a minor league deal. Solarte played in 130 games in AAA-ball last year for the Rangers last year and he was 149 of 518 (.288 avg, .745 OPS) with 69 runs scored, 11 homers, 54 RBIs and 3 stolen bases. He has now played in 539 games in his first seven years in the minors and he is 580 of 2,013 (.288 avg, .735 OPS) with 266 runs scored, 29 homers, 237 RBIs and 30 stolen bases. Solarte will get a shot to win a bench job for the Rangers next spring.

The Rangers have signed 26-year old righty reliever Collin Balester. Balester pitched in 11 games (0 starts) for the Tigers last year and he was 2-0 with a 6.50 ERA and a 1.39 WHIP. He also pitched in 31 games (0 starts) in AAA-ball last year in which he was 1-1 with 1 save, a 3.64 ERA and a 1.06 WHIP. Balester has now pitched in 73 games (22 starts) in his first five years in the majors and he is 7-16 with 5 saves, a 5.30 ERA and a 1.47 WHIP. Balester will get a shot to win a job in the Rangers’ bullpen next spring.

The Rangers have acquired 25-year old righty reliever Cory Burns from the Padres for either a player to be named later or cash considerations. Burns pitched in 17 games (0 starts) for the Padres in his first taste of the majors last year and he was 0-1 with a 5.50 ERA and a 2.00 WHIP. He also pitched in 52 games (0 starts) in AAA-ball last year for the Padres and he was 1-2 with 3 saves, a 3.14 ERA and a 1.00 WHIP. Burns will get a shot to make the Rangers’ bullpen next spring.

UPDATE: (12/6/2012) - The Rangers have sent 23-year old righty reliever Wilfredo Boscan to the Padres as they player to be named later in this deal. Boscan pitched in 34 games (9 starts) in AA-ball last year and he was 7-5 with a 3.75 ERA and a 1.22 WHIP.