MLB PLAYER NEWS

Rangers get deals done with Chirinos, Scheppers

The Sports Xchange

January 15, 2016 at 9:17 pm.

Jul 20, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; Texas Rangers relief pitcher Tanner Scheppers (52) delivers a pitch during the ninth inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. The Rockies won 8-7. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports

Jul 20, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; Texas Rangers relief pitcher Tanner Scheppers (52) delivers a pitch during the ninth inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. The Rockies won 8-7. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports

The Texas Rangers agreed to one-year contracts with catcher Robinson Chirinos and right-hander Tanner Scheppers on Friday.

That left the Rangers without deals with first baseman Mitch Moreland, closer Shawn Tolleson and left-hander Jake Diekman, who are eligible for aribitration in February. The team has exchanged salary figures with Moreland and Tolleson.

Chirinos agreed to a $1.55 million contract and Scheppers to a $900,000 deal.

The 30-year-old Moreland is seeking a $6 million salary after getting $.2.98 million in 2015 when he posted career bests with a .278 batting average and 84 RBIs and tied a career high with 23 home runs. The Rangers countered with a $4.7 million offer.

Tolleson was fifth in the American League last season with 35 saves in 37 chances. He wants $3.9 million in 2016 — a big raise from $519,700 last year — and the Rangers countered with $2.6 million.

Chirinos started three of the five games in the AL Division Series loss to the Toronto Blue Jays in October. He saw action in a team-best 78 games during the regular season despite a left shoulder strain that bothered him in the final two months of the season.

Scheppers posted a 4-1 record with a 5.63 ERA in 42 relief appearances in 2015. He was bothered by right ankle and left knee injuries during the season.

Diekman came to the Rangers last year as part of the trade with the Philadelphia Phillies involving ace Cole Hamels. He had a 2.08 ERA in 21 2/3 innings for the Rangers after the deal and gave up one run in six innings while pitching in four of five games in the playoff series against the Blue Jays.

The 28-year-old Diekman requested $1.55 million and the Rangers offered $975,000. He made $535,500 last season.