ARLINGTON -- The Rangers have cleared four spots on their 40-man roster by outrighting pitcher Paolo Espino, infielders Phil Gosselin and Will Middlebrooks and outfielder Jared Hoying to Triple-A Round Rock.
Gosselin and Middlebrooks have both declined the outright assignment and elected to become free agents. The moves leave the Rangers with 36 players on the 40-man roster.
Hoying is coming back for his ninth season with the Rangers after being a 10th-round Draft pick out of the University of Toledo in 2010. He has spent parts of the past two seasons with the Rangers, hitting .220 and serving as a valuable backup outfielder/pinch-runner, including in the '16 postseason.
Espino was acquired from the Brewers on Aug. 26 and had a 5.68 ERA in six relief appearances. He was 4-2 with a 4.52 ERA in 14 starts and two relief appearances at Triple-A Colorado Springs before the trade.
Middlebrooks played in 78 games at Round Rock, hitting .258 with 23 home runs, 64 RBIs and a .529 slugging percentage before being called up to the big leagues for September.
Gosselin is a five-year Major League veteran with seven years in the Minor Leagues who has been an asset to four organizations because of his ability to play multiple positions.