Rivera signed a minor-league contract with the Astros on Friday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
Rivera appeared in four games for the Rangers in 2020 and went hitless with a strikeout in five at-bats. The 29-year-old has been assigned to Triple-A Sugar Land and should serve mainly as organizational depth for Houston.
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Rangers' Yadiel Rivera: Dropped from 40-man roster
Rotowire
The Rangers outrighted Rivera (elbow) to Triple-A Nashville on Friday.
Texas initially dropped Rivera from its 40-man roster Sept. 4, but he ended up reverting to the 10-day injured list after undergoing elbow surgery, which may keep him sidelined for the start of the 2021 campaign. The Rangers formally activated and DFA'd Rivera again in a procedural move after the regular season ended, officially taking him off the 40-man roster. The utility infielder saw action in four games in 2020, going hitless in five plate appearances.
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Rangers' Yadiel Rivera: Undergoes elbow surgery
Rotowire
Rivera underwent surgery on his elbow, Jeff Wilson of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports.
Per Wilson, the procedure was similar to Tommy John surgery, but involved using an artificial brace rather than a human tendon. Fellow Ranger Danny Santana had the same surgery Sept. 9 and is expected to take eight months to recover, so a similar timeline could be in store for Rivera.
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Rangers' Yadiel Rivera: Clears waivers
Rotowire
The Rangers outrighted Rivera to their alternate training site Sunday.
Rivera cleared waivers after the Rangers designated him for assignment Friday. Though he'll remain in the organization, his chances of resurfacing with the big club in 2020 have been reduced now that he no longer occupies a spot on the 40-man roster.
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Rangers' Yadiel Rivera: Designated for assignment
Rotowire
Rivera was designated for assignment by the Rangers on Friday.
Rivera spent two weeks on the active roster but appeared in just four games and received only five at-bats. He failed to record a hit, lowering his career slash line through 319 plate appearances to .175/.244/.217.
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Rangers' Yadiel Rivera: Fills in for Odor
Rotowire
Rivera started at second base and went 0-for-2 in Tuesday's 10-3 loss to the Athletics.
Rivera filled in for the injured Rougned Odor, who was scratched due to an eye infection. Rangers manager Chris Woodward opted for the right-handed-hitting Rivera against Oakland lefty Sean Manaea instead of Derek Dietrich, a lefty batter who later replaced Rivera when right-hander Lou Trivino entered the game. Rivera is hitless in five plate appearances since being promoted to the active roster.
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Rangers' Yadiel Rivera: Swipes bag Sunday
Rotowire
Rivera went 0-for-3 with a stolen base in Sunday's 4-1 loss to the Mariners.
Rivera reached on an error in the sixth inning and stole second, but the Rangers couldn't bring him home. Sunday marked Rivera's first game of 2020 -- he hit .183/.258/.217 with two steals, three RBI and eight runs scored in 34 outings with the Marlins last year. Rivera is likely to see just a part-time role while Elvis Andrus (back) is out.
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Rangers' Yadiel Rivera: Summoned to majors
Rotowire
Rivera was promoted to the Rangers' active roster Thursday.
Rivera will provide the Rangers with infield depth for the time being with Elvis Andrus sidelined due to a lower-back strain. The 28-year-old appeared in 34 games for the Marlins in 2019, slashing just .183/.258/.217 with zero home runs and two stolen bases.
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Rangers' Yadiel Rivera: Sent to alternate training site
Rotowire
Rivera was reassigned to the Rangers' alternate training site Sunday, Levi Weaver of The Athletic reports.
Rivera was thought to be a strong candidate to begin the season on the team's 30-man roster when camp started, but he'll instead work at the team's alternate training site. Given the 28-year-old's abilities as a utility infielder, he could be one of the team's top options to fill in as depth if injuries occur on the major-league squad. Rivera hit .183/.258/.217 with three RBI and two stolen bases over 34 games with the Marlins last year.
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Rangers' Yadiel Rivera: Likely on 30-man active roster
Rotowire
Rivera was added to the Rangers' 60-man player pool and is expected to be part of the team's 30-man active roster to start the season, Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News reports.
Rivera was expected to be part of the player pool, but a more prominent spot on the roster became likely when the Rangers released Matt Duffy. Rivera, who is a truer shortstop than Duffy, spent parts of the last five seasons in the majors for the Brewers and Marlins. The Rangers have Isiah Kiner-Falefa on the depth chart behind starting shortstop Elvis Andrus, but if the club opts to use Kiner-Falefa as the starting third baseman with Todd Frazier sliding across the diamond to first, Rivera becomes the top depth option at short. He batted .183/.258/.217 in 34 games for Miami in 2019.
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Rangers' Yadiel Rivera: Joins Rangers on minors deal
Rotowire
Rivera signed with the Rangers as a non-roster invitee Friday.
Rivera hit a poor .183/.258/.217 in 34 games for the Marlins last season. That translates to a 33 wRC+, though that's actually stronger than his career 28 wRC+ over parts of five seasons.
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Marlins' Yadiel Rivera: Sent outright to Triple-A
Rotowire
Rivera was outrighted to Triple-A New Orleans on Thursday, Andre Fernandez of The Athletic reports.
Rivera was designated for assignment by the Marlins on Tuesday, but after failing to draw interest while on waivers, he'll head to Triple-A.
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Marlins' Yadiel Rivera: DFA'd by Marlins
Rotowire
Rivera was designated for assignment by Miami on Tuesday, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.
Rivera will be subjected to waivers after hitting just .183 with three RBI over 34 games this season with the Marlins. Hector Noesi was promoted to the big leagues in a corresponding move.
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Marlins' Yadiel Rivera: Makes second straight start at SS
Rotowire
Rivera went 1-for-3 in Monday's loss to the White Sox.
With Miguel Rojas (shoulder) and JT Riddle (forearm) both sidelined, Rivera is all the Marlins have left at shortstop, and the 27-year-old has gone 1-for-7 while starting the last two games. Rojas may not be out for long, but until he's cleared to return, Rivera and his .478 career OPS will remain in the lineup.
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Marlins' Yadiel Rivera: Getting second straight start
Rotowire
Rivera will start at third base and bat seventh Sunday against the Braves, Joe Frisaro of MLB.com reports.
Rivera will draw a second straight start as the Marlins wrap up their series in Atlanta, but he's done little to make a case for receiving regular action once the second half begins. Since being recalled from Triple-A New Orleans on June 14, Rivera has gone 5-for-34 with 13 strikeouts.
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Marlins' Yadiel Rivera: Recalled from Triple-A
Rotowire
Rivera was recalled from Triple-A New Orleans on Friday, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.
The 27-year-old was called up to provide infield depth with Martin Prado (hamstring) headed to the 10-day injured list Friday. Rivera carries a slash line of .318/.333/.516 with 11 home runs and 34 RBI through 61 games with Triple-A New Orleans this season, but it's worth noting he struggled at the major-league level in 2018, recording a batting average of just .173 in 160 plate appearances. It's unclear if Rivera will stay with the Marlins once Prado is ready to return, but he'll start at third base and bat seventh Friday.
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Marlins' Yadiel Rivera: Cast off 40-man roster
Rotowire
Rivera was outrighted to Triple-A New Orleans on Tuesday, Andre Fernandez of The Athletic reports.
The utility man hit just .173/.269/.216 across 111 games (160 plate appearances) with the Marlins in 2018.
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Marlins' Yadiel Rivera: Contributes as pinch hitter in win over Nats
Rotowire
Rivera entered Sunday's win over the Nats in the seventh inning as a pinch hitter, going 1-for-1 with a run scored and a stolen base.
The 26-year-old is back to coming off the bench now that Martin Prado has rejoined the lineup, and Rivera's .202/.316/.253 slash line on the season may keep him there even if injuries open up playing time around the Marlins' infield again. He currently qualifies at second base, third base and shortstop in most leagues and could add first base and outfield to his portfolio in the second half, but even in deep NL-only leagues, there's little reason to carry him on a fantasy roster.
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Marlins' Yadiel Rivera: Struggles on defense in Sunday's start
Rotowire
Rivera went 1-for-3 with two walks in Sunday's win over the Reds, but he also committed his first two errors of the season.
The 26-year-old has seen little action this season behind Miguel Rojas at shortstop, and Rivera's anemic .148/.258/.148 slash line in 31 plate appearances and unreliable defense aren't doing anything to change that. Expect him to be replaced on the roster by JT Riddle as soon as the Marlins are confident Riddle is fully recovered from his shoulder injury.
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Marlins' Yadiel Rivera: Lands on Opening Day roster
Rotowire
The Marlins selected Rivera's contract from Triple-A New Orleans on Thursday, Clark Spencer of the Miami Herald reports.
Rivera slashed .304/.373/.457 through 51 plate appearances this spring, but the short sample was enough for the non-roster invitee to catch on with the big club as a reserve infielder. The 25-year-old will provide organizational depth on a team that is currently down two infielders in J.T. Riddle (shoulder) and Martin Prado (knee). To make room on the 40-man roster, Austin Nola was designated for assignment, and Brett Graves was moved to the 60-day disabled list.
