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Rangers acquire infielder from Cubs, add four to 40-man roster

The Rangers finalized their protection of Rule 5 eligible players Friday by placing four prospects on the 40-man roster for the first time.

OF Nomar Mazara, perhaps the top prospect in the system, RHP Connor Sadzeck, LHP Yohander Mendez and RHP Jose LeClerc to the roster. We looked at the Rule 5 eligibility of a handful of top prospects yesterday.

Also, the Rangers sent RHP Spencer Patton to the Chicago Cubs for INF Frandy De La Rosa in a move to create additional space on the 40-man roster. Patton was on the 40-man; De La Rosa, 19 does not yet need to be protected. It leaves the Rangers with 38 players on the 40-man roster, giving them the ability to add a player and to participate in the Rule 5 draft at the Winter Meetings in Nashville, Tenn., next month.

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De La Rosa has played 3 seasons in the Cubs system after signing as non-drafted free agent on July 2, 2012. The switch-hitter spent last season with Eugene in the Northwest League, batting .273 with 20 doubles and 30 RBI in 62 games. He played for Cubs' Dominican Summer League club in 2013-14. The Dominican Republic native has played primarily at second base, but has also seen significant action at shortstop.

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Patton split last season with Texas and Round Rock, going 1-1 with a 9.00 ERA over 27 relief appearances spanning 4 major league stints with the Rangers: May 4-14, June 7-10, July 25-August 26, and October 4.

Also on Friday, it was announced that OF Delino DeShields has been selected as the 2015 Texas Rangers Rookie of the Year, it was announced today. He was selected in voting by the Dallas-Fort Worth chapter of the Baseball Writers Association of America.

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A December 2014 Rule V Draft selection from Houston, DeShields emerged as the regular centerfielder and leadoff hitter for the A.L. West champion Rangers. He batted .261 with two home runs, 37 RBI, and 25 stolen bases in 121 games. DeShields led the league with 12 bunt hits, ranked fifth with 10 triples, and tied for fifth in stolen bases. He also topped A.L. rookies in runs (83), tied for first in walks (53), and was second in triples and steals.

DeShields will receive his award at the 2016 Dr Pepper Texas Rangers Awards Dinner on Friday, January 22 at the Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center in Grapevine. Tickets for the dinner, which will honor a number of baseball personalities and feature appearances by Texas Rangers past and present, are on sale at www.texasrangers.com/awards.