Rangers acquire RHP Ryan Tucker

St. Petersburg, Fla. – The Texas Rangers announced tonight that the club has acquired right-handed pitcher Ryan Tucker on a waiver claim from Florida. To make room on the 40-man roster for Tucker, the club has designated right-handed pitcher Rich Harden for assignment.

Tucker, 23, went 0-5 with a 6.15 ERA (23 ER/33.2 IP) in 7 games/starts for Triple-A New Orleans in the Florida organization this season. He also made 23 appearances for Jupiter in the High-A Florida State League, going 1-3 with 6 saves and a 6.00 ERA (20 ER/30.0 IP). Tucker tossed 4.0 shutout innings in 2 games/one start for the Gulf Coast League Marlins this year.

A supplemental first round selection by Florida in the 2005 June Draft, Tucker saw his only big league action with the Marlins in 2008. He went 2-3 with an 8.27 ERA (34 ER/37.0 IP) in 13 games/6 starts for Florida in 2008, and missed most of the 2009 season due to knee and oblique injuries. Tucker was Florida’s 2008 Minor League Pitcher of the Year after going 5-3 with a 1.58 ERA (16 ER/91.0 IP) in 25 games/12 starts with High-A Carolina that season.

Harden went 5-5 with a 5.58 ERA (57 ER/92.0 IP) in 20 games/18 starts for Texas this season. The club’s no. 2 starter to open the year, he ranked among team leaders in strikeouts (T4th, 75) and starts (5th) in 2010. The Rangers have 10 days to trade, release, or outright Harden to the minor leagues.

With these moves, the Rangers still have a full 40-man roster.