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Rangers Receive 1B Tommy Joseph From Philadelphia Phillies in Waiver Claim

Surprise, Ariz. — The Texas Rangers today announced that the club has received first baseman Tommy Joseph from the Philadelphia Phillies in a waiver claim. To make room on the 40-man roster for Joseph, the team has placed right-handed pitcher Clayton Blackburn on the 60-day disabled list with a right elbow strain.

Joseph, 26, batted .429 (9-21) with 3 doubles and an RBI in 11 Grapefruit League games for Philadelphia this spring before he was designated for assignment on March 12 when the club formally signed right-handed pitcher Jake Arrieta. The first baseman has posted consecutive seasons with more than 20 home runs in 2016-17 for the Phillies. He batted .240 with 22 home runs, 27 doubles, and 69 RBI in 142 games with Philly last season, starting 125 games at first base. He ranked second on the club in homers and RBI in 2017.

The Scottsdale, Arizona native was originally selected by San Francisco in the second round of the 2009 June draft, and he was traded to the Phillies in the July 31, 2012 deal in which Hunter Pence was sent to the Giants. Primarily a catcher in the early part of his pro career, he has appeared almost exclusively as a first baseman since 2015.

Blackburn left his start on March 12 at Cleveland in Goodyear the 1st inning with tightness in his right elbow. He was diagnosed with a Grade 1 UCL strain and is expected to miss a minimum of 4-6 weeks.

With these moves, the Rangers still have a full 40-man roster, along with two players on the 60-day disabled list: Blackburn and Joe Palumbo.

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