The Texas Rangers have decided not to offer a contract to catcher Geovany Soto for the 2013 season.
The Rangers had until 11 p.m. to make a decision, and opted to non-tender Soto as well as infielder Brandon Snyder and right-hander Jake Brigham.
The club still has interest in Soto, just not at the price it would have cost them. Soto, who was eligible for arbitration, made $4.2 million this season and is now a free agent.
Soto, who was picked up from the Chicago Cubs at the trade deadline on July 31, hit .196 in 47 games for the Rangers with five homers and 25 RBIs. Between Chicago and Texas, Soto finished the year with a .198 average and 39 RBIs.
Soto also threw out seven of the 28 baserunners attempting to steal while he was with the Rangers.
The decision to non-tender Soto leaves Luis Martinez and Konrad Schmidt as the only two catchers on the team's 40-man roster.
Martinez has played in 32 games over two years, including 10 for the Rangers last year. Schmidt, who was picked up on waivers from Arizona last month, has 15 major league at-bats. Free agent Mike Napoli, who handled the bulk of the catching duties for Texas this season, met with the organization Wednesday night.
There's a chance that Snyder and Brigham could remain with the organization on minor-league deals.
