Derek Lowe earns bullpen job with Rangers

Published Mar. 26, 2013 4:00 p.m. ET

foxsports

SURPRISE, Ariz. (AP) -- Derek Lowe has earned a job with the Texas Rangers and will start the season in the bullpen.

Rangers manager Ron Washington said Tuesday the 39-year-old right-hander will be a long reliever and spot starter.

Lowe agreed March 6 to a minor league contract and will get a one-year deal that pays him $1.25 million in the major leagues and $150,000 in the minors. He can earn $1.7 million in performance bonuses based on a point system for starts and relief appearances.

Lowe was 9-11 with a 5.11 ERA last season in 21 starts and 17 relief appearances for Cleveland and the New York Yankees. He will take over a role filled last season by Scott Feldman, who left to sign with the Chicago Cubs.

Texas also said it will option prospect Jurickson Profar to Round Rock and assign catcher Eli Whiteside, left-hander Nate Robertson and outfielder Jim Adduci to the Triple-A club.

General manager Jon Daniels said right-hander Nick Tepesch will start for Round Rock on April 4, then will be recalled to the Rangers for their game April 9 against Tampa Bay, the first day Texas will need a fifth starter.

Tepesch is 0-1 with a 6.50 ERA during five spring training appearances, including three starts. The 24-year-old was a combined 11-6 at Class A and Double-A last season.

Profar is hitting .244 (11 for 45) in 21 spring training games with five RBIs. The 20-year-old decided against participating in the early rounds of the World Baseball Classic for the Nethertlands to increase his chances of making the Rangers' opening-day roster.