Rangers sign reliever Carpenter to Minors deal

ARLINGTON -- The Rangers have signed former Major League reliever David Carpenter to a Minor League contract, although without an invitation to big league camp. He is the latest beneficiary of Driveline Baseball, the Seattle-base workout facility that was working with Tim Lincecum last year.
Carpenter pitched five seasons in the big leagues from 2011-15 with the Astros, Blue Jays, Braves, Yankees and Nationals. He was exceptional with the Braves in 2013 when he pitched in 56 games and was 4-1 with a 1.78 ERA and a 0.99 WHIP.
He was originally drafted by the Cardinals in the 12th round of the 2006 as a catcher out of the University of West Virginia. He converted to pitching in 2008 and was good enough to pitch in 218 Major League games. 
He has not pitched in the big leagues since 2015 while dealing with shoulder inflammation. He spent 2016-17 pitching trying to land a job with four different organizations while getting work with the Bridgeport Bluefish of the independent Atlantic League.
Carpenter, 33, did not pitch professionally last season but has been working out at Driveline. According to their website, he was throwing 94.4 mph at Driveline's Pro Day in January.