MLB notebook: Rangers extend GM Daniels' contract

The Texas Rangers rewarded general manager Jon Daniels with a multi-year contract extension, the team announced Thursday.

The 40-year-old Daniels' contract was due to expire after this season. Terms of the new deal weren't revealed.

"This is really about ownership showing their faith in what we are building, the direction we are going and the team we have in place on the field and in the front office," Daniels told reporters. "We are not where we want to be by any means, but we are making progress. We are not where we want to be, but we are going to get there. There is a sense of urgency not in a quick fix but to make progress in putting the building blocks in place and keep going."

The Rangers entered Thursday with a 27-37 record, last in the American League West standings and 12 1/2 games out of first place.

--The Tampa Bay Rays designated infielder Brad Miller for assignment, clearing the way for first base prospect Jake Bauers to join the club from Triple-A Durham.

The Rays announced Wednesday that Bauers would be getting the call, with Miller the presumed roster casualty in a corresponding move. The 28-year-old Miller is hitting .256 with five home runs and 21 RBIs this season, though he's struck out 51 times in 156 at-bats.

The Rays will be on the hook for the remainder of Miller's $4.5 million salary this season unless they find a trade partner for his services in the next seven days. He is two seasons removed from a 30-homer campaign in his first year with the Rays in 2016 but followed that up with a disappointing 2017 season, hitting .201 with nine homers in 110 games.

--The Boston Red Sox recalled left-hander Jalen Beeks from Triple-A Pawtucket to make his major league debut against the Detroit Tigers.

Left-handed reliever Bobby Poyner was optioned to Pawtucket in a corresponding move.

Beeks, a 12th-round pick by the Red Sox in the 2014 draft, has gone 3-3 with a 2.56 ERA in 10 starts with Pawtucket this season. The 24-year-old holds a 3.64 ERA in 90 games (88 starts) across the minors the past five years.

--The Los Angeles Dodgers placed left-handed reliever Tony Cingrani on the 10-day disabled list with a left shoulder strain, recalling right-hander Pedro Baez from Triple-A Oklahoma City in a corresponding move.

Additionally, the Dodgers optioned left-hander Caleb Ferguson to Oklahoma City and recalled left-hander Edward Paredes from the same club.

Cingrani exited his relief appearance against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday after walking the only batter he faced. He has a 4.84 ERA in 28 appearances this season, striking out 36 in 22 1/3 innings. He returned from a 10-day stint on the disabled list with left shoulder inflammation on May 19.

--The Oakland Athletics activated right-hander Paul Blackburn from the 60-day disabled list, clearing the way for him to make his season debut against the Kansas City Royals.

Blackburn has been sidelined since suffering a strained right forearm muscle late in spring training. The 24-year-old displayed promise last season when he went 3-1 with a 3.22 ERA in 10 starts. His season ended on Aug. 22 when he was struck on his pitching hand by a line drive off the bat of Baltimore's Trey Mancini.

Oakland also optioned catcher Bruce Maxwell to Triple-A Nashville and transferred outfielder Boog Powell to the 60-day DL.

--The Minnesota Twins reinstated right-hander Trevor May from the 60-day disabled list, optioning him to Triple-A Rochester as he continues to work his way back to the majors from Tommy John surgery underwent last March.

To clear room for May on the 40-man roster, the Twins transferred catcher Jason Castro, out for the season with a torn meniscus in his right knee, to the 60-day DL.

May completed his rehab assignment, finishing with a 5.50 ERA in six games (four starts) between high Class-A Fort Myers and Rochester. He struck out 20 and walked 12 in 18 innings.

----Former big league pitcher Fernando Abad and Chicago Cubs farmhand David Garner were suspended for violating the Minor League Drug Prevention and Treatment Program, the MLB commissioner's office announced.

Abad received an 80-game suspension without pay after testing positive for Stanozolol, a performance-enhancing substance. The left-hander isn't currently with a team. He was released by the Philadelphia Phillies in March.

Garner received a 100-game suspension without pay for his third violation for a drug of abuse. The right-hander is being suspended for the second time this season as he recently completed a 50-game suspension that was also for a drug of abuse.

--Field Level Media