Odor's time with Rangers likely over with $27.7M left on deal

The Texas Rangers plan to designate Rougned Odor for assignment after the second baseman was informed he wouldn't make the Opening Day roster, according to Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News.

Odor is four seasons into a six-year, $49.5-million extension signed prior to the 2017 campaign. The 27-year-old is still owed $27.7 million, with $12.33 million due in both the 2021 and 2022 seasons, and a $3-million buyout on a $13.5-million team option in 2023.

"I think really what it came down to was we've made a decision, obviously a pretty clear direction looking toward the future," Rangers president of baseball operations Jon Daniels said. "And playing him every day was not in our plans this year.

"As we look forward, we think we're going to have some younger players coming up. And we didn’t think it was in his best interest or our best interest to kind of force the issue into a bench role."

Since signing the extension, Odor has hit a paltry .215/.279/.418 with 88 homers and 38 steals over 474 games, all while accruing a total of 1.1 WAR, according to FanGraphs. Among qualified second basemen over that span, Odor's 74 wRC+ ranks second-last to Brandon Drury.

Teams will get the opportunity to claim Odor after he's designated, but a club would need to take on all of his remaining salary, unless the Rangers agree to retain some in a trade. If Odor clears waivers, the Rangers will get the option to release the veteran or send him to the minors, a move Odor must accept.