Wanna project for 1B

The Texas Rangers have designated 1B/OF Jason Botts for assignment. In 2006 at AAA Oklahoma he hit .309 with a .582 Slg. pct. , despite those impressive numbers he has struggled to hit in the majors. Every year he made it onto John Sickel's Minor league report, for Texas' top prospects. Botts has played in four partial seasons with the Rangers and while most are beginning to label him as a AAAA, the longest stretch he's had in the majors was 48 gms ( 2007). In 93 major league games he has a BA .230 with a Slg .344 and OBP .325. The 28 y/o switch hitter is primarily a 1B but with the Rangers has played more games in the corner outfield. Ten days after stating that they were going to make an effort to get him regular at-bats the Rangers have designated him for assignment.

A concerted effort is going to be made to get Jason Botts as many at-bats at possible. He could get them at designated hitter, first base or the outfield, but the Rangers want him to play more than he did in the first two weeks of the season. source MLB.com 4/20/08

The team now has 10 days to trade him, release him out right or re-assign him if nobody claims him off waivers. Botts is only hitting .158 but that's in just 38 at-bats, he would be a project but with Alou returning the team maybe able to carry a weak hitter who has a huge upside. Another concern is that if Botts panned out he would block Carp in the minors. Despite being out of options he would be controllable for two more years. It would be a big risk, it would mean sending Pagan down or carrying one less reliever, I'm not that familiar with him but as I said I would do, he's a first baseman so I'm passing along the information.....

The Rangers this afternoon, perhaps momentarily, will announce that Jason Botts has been designated for assignment and that Chris Shelton's contract will be purchased. The club is desperate for another productive right-handed bat in the lineup and Botts simply hasn't taken advantage of whatever limited opportunities he's been given. He is hitting .158 in 38 at-bats. The move will give the Rangers 10 days to trade, release or outright Botts to Triple-A. If he clears waivers, the Rangers absolutely want to keep him in the system, but with the season hanging on the edge of a cliff, the Rangers need somebody with a little bit of a track record of big league success against left-handers. Shelton will see time in the first-base rotation, certainly against left-handers, but it won't surprise me if he gets some time against right-handers, too. source Dallas News