PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. (AP) — The Texas Rangers sent prospect Mike Lamb to Triple-A Oklahoma on Wednesday, clearing the way for Tom Evans to be their starting third baseman.
Lamb, who hit .324 with 21 homers and 100 RBIs in the minors last season, came into spring training as the favorite to replace Todd Zeile.
But Evans, a non-roster invitee to camp who spent all last season at Triple-A, beat him out by hitting .310 and tying for second on the club with four homers, including a grand slam.
Evans played 12 games for Toronto in 1997 and seven more in 1998. The Rangers claimed him off waivers from the Blue Jays last spring.
To make room for Evans on the 40-man roster, first baseman Mike Simms cleared waivers and was designated for assignment to Oklahoma. Simms, who missed last year with an injury, can accept the assignment or become a free agent.