Rangers add knuckleballer Gamboa to roster

SURPRISE, Ariz. -- The Rangers have acquired right-handed knuckleballer Eddie Gamboa from the Rays for either a player to be named or cash considerations.
The Rangers made room on their 40-man roster by placing both reliever Jake Diekman -- who is recovering from surgery to remove his colon -- and infielder Prince Fielder on the 60-day disabled list.
Fielder announced last summer that he can no longer play baseball after undergoing a second operation on a herniated disk in his neck, but he is signed through 2020. He had to be kept on the 40-man roster during the winter and will spend the season on the 60-day DL. The Rangers now have 39 on their 40-man roster.
That leaves room for free-agent first baseman Mike Napoli, who agreed to a one-year deal with an option for 2018. That deal has not been officially announced pending a physical, which should take place in the next day or two.
Gamboa made his Major League debut for the Rays last season and went 0-2 with a 1.35 ERA. He allowed nine hits and eight walks in 13 1/3 innings while striking out 11. He threw his knuckleball 70.3 percent of the time.
Gamboa was a 21st-round pick by the Orioles in 2008 out of UC-Davis. He rose through the Orioles system on conventional stuff but couldn't get past Double-A. In Spring Training of 2013, he started throwing a knuckleball after Hall of Famer Phil Niekro visited camp to work with another pitcher.
Gamboa left the Orioles after the 2015 season and signed a Minor League contract with the Rays. He spent most of last season with Triple-A Durham and went 6-4 with a 2.68 ERA in 12 starts and 15 relief appearances.