Rangers reach Minors deals with Duffy, Law

ARLINGTON -- The Rangers have reached an agreement with infielder Matt Duffy and right-hander Derek Law on Minor League contracts with an invitation to Spring Training, the club announced on Thursday.

A 29-year-old right-handed hitter, Duffy will come to camp competing with Nick Solak and Isiah Kiner-Falefa for a spot as a utility infielder. Or he could platoon with first baseman Ronald Guzmán if he wins a spot on the team.

Law, meanwhile, will come to camp competing for a spot in the Rangers' bullpen. He made 58 appearances for the Blue Jays last season, going 1-2 with a 4.90 ERA and a 1.66 WHIP.

Duffy has been primarily a third baseman over his five-year Major League career, and he could play there against left-handed pitching because Todd Frazier has the ability to play both first and third. There is also a possibility the Rangers could try Duffy at first base in Spring Training -- a position where he has played three Major League innings -- so he may platoon with the left-handed-hitting Guzmán.

The 2012 18th-round Draft pick by the Giants was originally a shortstop in their farm system before being switched to third base. That has been his main position in the big leagues, but he also has limited time at both short and second. He is a career .263 hitter with a .338 on-base percentage and a .342 slugging percentage against left-handed pitching. He has a .290/.338/.395 slash line against righties.

Duffy was once a front-line infielder for the Giants and Rays before suffering multiple leg injuries that set back his career significantly.

His first full season in the Major Leagues was with the Giants in 2015 when he hit .295 with 12 home runs, 77 RBIs and a .428 slugging percentage -- good enough to be runner-up for National League Rookie of the Year. He was traded to the Rays in '16 and had been with that organization since then.

As for injuries, Duffy underwent surgery on his left Achilles tendon at the end of the 2016 season. He ended up missing the entire '17 season after experiencing multiple setbacks during the rehab process.

Duffy played in 132 games for the Rays in 2018 and hit .294 with four home runs, 44 RBIs and a .366 slugging percentage. But he was limited to 46 games this past season because of back and left hamstring injuries and finished with a career-low .252 batting average.

Law, for his part, averaged 9.9 strikeouts, 5.9 walks and 9.0 hits per nine innings last season. The right-hander, 29, can hit 94 mph with his fastball and has a swing-and-miss slider, but the 5.9 walks per nine innings was the fourth highest mark in the Majors last season for pitchers with at least 50 innings pitched.

The Rangers originally drafted Law out of Seton LaSalle (Pittsburgh) Catholic in the 28th round of the 2009 Draft, but he did not sign. The Giants took him in the ninth round of the '11 Draft out of Miami-Dade College, and, after undergoing Tommy John elbow reconstruction surgery in 2014, Law pitched in parts of three seasons for them from '16-18. He was 9-3 with a 3.83 ERA and a 1.29 WHIP in 109 games for the Giants before being traded to the Blue Jays at the beginning of last season.

Rangers' 20-game ticket plans on sale Monday

The Rangers' 20-game season ticket plans for the upcoming season at Globe Life Field will go on sale at 9 a.m. CT on Monday.

Fans can select from one of three set plans: MVP, Gold Glove, and Silver Slugger, with prices beginning at $18 per game. The MVP plan includes the first scheduled regular season game ever at Globe Life Field on Tuesday, March 31, against the Angels.

For an additional $5 per ticket per game, a "Fan’s Choice" plan is available where fans can select their own 20 games, including the option for the regular season home opener on March 31. Plans are available in 10 different seating categories in Globe Life Field.

The 20-game season ticket holders receive a number of benefits, including postseason ticket benefits, discounts off the regular gate ticket prices, utilization of the Season Ticket Member Services Area and the options to exchange tickets for other games.