Rangers add Volquez, 3 others to 40-man roster

ARLINGTON -- Veteran pitcher Edinson Vólquez, who signed a two-year Minor League contract with the Rangers last spring, has been added to the 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 Draft.
Volquez, a 13-year Major League veteran and former All-Star, missed all of last season while recovering from Tommy John elbow reconstruction surgery but is expected to be at full strength for Spring Training. The Rangers plan on him being able to compete for a spot in the starting rotation. Volquez last pitched for the Marlins in 2017, going 4-8 with a 4.19 ERA in 17 starts.
Also added to the roster were pitchers Taylor Hearn and Wei-Chieh Huang, and outfielder Scott Heineman.
Hearn was acquired from the Pirates in a July 31 trade for Keone Kela and is the Rangers' No. 6 prospect, according to MLB Pipeline. He made five starts at Double-A Frisco and went 1-2 with a 5.04 ERA. He went 3-6 with a 3.12 ERA in 19 starts at Double-A Altoona before the trade as a member of the Pirates' organization. During four Minor League seasons, he has averaged 7.5 hits, 3.5 walks and 10.4 strikeouts per nine innings. He will be in Major League camp, but is not expected to compete for a spot on the Opening Day roster.
Heineman, who turns 26 in December, continues to make steady progress through the Minor League system and should compete for a spot as the fourth outfielder in Spring Training. He played in 107 games at Triple-A Round Rock last season and hit .295 with 68 runs scored, 11 home runs, 57 RBIs, a .355 on-base percentage and .429 slugging percentage. He also stole 16 bases and can play all three outfield positions.
The Rangers acquired Huang from the D-backs in exchange for Jake Diekman on July 31. He had a 2.59 ERA and 1.05 WHIP at Class A Advanced Visalia before the trade and a 6.30 ERA and 1.45 WHIP at Frisco once joining the Rangers' organization.
Rangers acquire Reinheimer
The Rangers have acquired infielder Jack Reinheimer off waivers from the Cubs. It is the third time this year that Reinheimer has been claimed off waivers.
He began the season playing in the D-backs organization and was claimed by the Mets on July 31. He played in 21 games for the Mets over the final two months and went 5-for-30 at the plate while playing shortstop, left field, and second and third base.

He also played four positions over six seasons in the Minor Leagues with a .275 batting average, .343 on-base percentage and .361 slugging percentage. He was originally drafted by the Mariners in the fifth round of the 2013 MLB Draft out of East Carolina University.
Butler, Herrera outrighted
Eddie Butler was one of three players acquired from the Cubs in the trade for Cole Hamels on July 27. He went 1-2 with a 6.47 ERA in 22 games for the Rangers and has a career record of 12-22 with a 5.80 ERA for the Rockies, Cubs and Rangers.
Ronald Herrera was acquired a year ago from the Yankees, but did not pitch all of last season. He underwent surgery on June 11 to repair a torn flexor tendon in his right forearm.