Associated Press
ARLINGTON — Willie Calhoun, the Texas Rangers’ main acquisition in the 2017 trade that sent Yu Darvish to the Los Angeles Dodgers, was slated for assignment Sunday.
Calhoun, 27, was traded to Triple-A Round Rock early last month after going .136 in 18 games with one homer and two RBIs, then asked for a trade. He hit .221 with four home runs and 15 RBIs with Round Rock.
Calhoun came to Texas with pitcher AJ Alexy and infielder Brendon Davis on July 31, 2017 for Darvish, then a four-time All-Star with the Rangers.
Calhoun hit .241 in six seasons with Texas. His best season was 2019, when he hit .269 with 21 home runs and 48 RBIs.
Calhoun broke his jaw during spring training 2020 when he was hit by a pitch and played in just 29 games that year. His 2021 season ended in June when he was hit by a pitch that fractured his left forearm.
Rangers chairman Jon Daniels said the decision to appoint Calhoun was not difficult and was unrelated to Calhoun’s trade demand.
“At some point, the opportunities run out,” Daniels said.
Calhoun was named to make room on the 40-man roster of outfielder Steele Walker, whose contract was selected at Round Rock. Left-handed hitter Walker, 25, hit .297 in 20 games this season with Round Rock. He was scheduled to make his major league debut Sunday at home against Seattle.
Texas also opted for infielder Andy Ibanez at Round Rock on Sunday.
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