Rule 5 pick Brett de Geus designated for assignment by Rangers

The Rangers designated pitcher Brett de Geus for assignment on Wednesday, after the 23-year-old right-hander allowed 25 runs in 26⅔ innings in his 19 relief appearances.

De Geus was drafted by the Dodgers in the 33rd round in 2017, and was picked by Texas in December in the Rule 5 Draft after he wasn’t added to the Dodgers’ 40-man roster. By rule, de Geus has to remain on the active roster (or injured list) all season, and can’t be sent to the minors without first offering him back to the Dodgers.

The Rangers could trade de Geus at some point in the next week, but his new team would be subject to the same restriction of keeping him in the majors. Should the right-hander clear waivers, Texas has to offer him back to the Dodgers for $50,000, which is half of the cost the Rangers paid to get him in the Rule 5 Draft.

If de Geus does end up returning to his original organization, he wouldn’t be on the 40-man roster.

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Photo by Chris Walter/WireImage