McCarthy was released by Texas on Friday, Conor Foley of The Scranton Times-Tribune reports.
McCarthy signed an NRI deal with the Rangers in December, but failed to make the 40-man roster after slashing .258/.343/.419 during spring training. He will hit the open market and could be an option for teams in search of outfield depth.
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Rangers' Joe McCarthy: Signs with Rangers
Rotowire
McCarthy signed a minor-league contract with the Rangers on Wednesday, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.
McCarthy played for the Orix Buffaloes of the Nippon Professional Baseball League last year and slashed .236/.345/.401 with eight home runs, 30 RBI and 23 runs over 72 games in Japan. He'll be invited to major-league spring training in 2023 as part of his agreement with the Rangers.
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Joe McCarthy: Playing in Japan
Rotowire
McCarthy signed with the Orix Buffaloes of the Nippon Professional Baseball League on April 15, Hochi News reports.
McCarthy was among the final candidates to make the Rangers' Opening Day roster after going 8-for-14 with three home runs, two doubles and four walks in Cactus League action. Instead, he was assigned to Triple-A Round Rock, though he did not appear in any games with the club. He has yet to debut for Orix, though he should have the opportunity to gain more consistent playing time overseas.
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Giants' Joe McCarthy: Reaches base four times
Rotowire
McCarthy went 1-for-1 with a double, three walks, three runs and two RBI in Friday's 9-8 win over Colorado.
Batting eighth, McCarthy smacked a ground-rule double that brought a run home in the second inning and went on to draw three walks, one of which came with the bases loaded. His bid to make the team includes a .250/.400/.500 slash line with four walks and six strikeouts in nine games.
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Giants' Joe McCarthy: Headed to alternate camp
Rotowire
McCarthy was optioned to the Giants' alternate training site Thursday.
McCarthy went hitless in his first 10 at-bats with five strikeouts while appearing in four of the Giants' six games to begin the season. As a result, he'll continue his development at the alternate training site after Brandon Belt (Achilles) and Evan Longoria (oblique) were reinstated from the 10-day injured list Thursday.
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Giants' Joe McCarthy: Clinches spot on roster
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The Giants recalled McCarthy from their alternate training site Thursday.
McCarthy was previously optioned to Triple-A Sacramento in March, but he'll break summer camp with the Giants as one of six outfielders on the Opening Day roster. Considering the Giants already have two lefty-hitting starting outfielders on hand in Alex Dickerson and Mike Yastrzemski, McCarthy may have a tough time seeing at-bats off the bench.
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Giants' Joe McCarthy: Opening year at Triple-A
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McCarthy was optioned to Triple-A Sacramento on Tuesday, Amy Gutierrez of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.
The 26-year-old had a delayed start to the 2019 season in the Tampa Bay organization due to discomfort in his back. McCarthy joined the Giants' system July 31 and struggled to generate consistent production at the plate following his arrival, hitting .165/.247/.241 and striking out 30 times across 89 plate appearances. The young outfielder was a unlikely to make the Giants' Opening Day roster coming out of camp, but was able to learn from the major-league coaching staff.
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Giants' Joe McCarthy: Heads to Bay Area
Rotowire
McCarthy was traded from the Rays to the Giants on Wednesday in exchange for Jacob Lopez, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
McCarthy has struggled to get things going with Triple-A Durham this season, slashing .196/.335/.385 with six home runs and one stolen base in 41 games. The outfielder could make his big-league debut later in the season if he turns things around at the dish following the change of scenery.
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Rays' Joe McCarthy: Ready for debut
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McCarthy (back) is scheduled to play for High-A Charlotte on Monday, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports.
McCarthy has been on the shelf all season with a back injury. Once he gets up to speed in the lower minors, look for the outfielder to report to Triple-A Durham, where he spent most of the 2018 season and hit .269/.377/.513 with eight homers and three stolen bases in 47 games. If McCarthy stays healthy and performs well for the Bulls, he could eventually make his way to the majors on the strong side of a platoon at first base or DH.
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Rays' Joe McCarthy: Optioned to minors
Rotowire
The Rays optioned McCarthy to their minor-league camp Saturday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
McCarthy's 2018 campaign was ruined by back problems, which resurfaced during the spring and eliminated any shot he had at breaking camp with the big club. Once healthy, McCarthy should settle into an everyday role in the Triple-A Durham outfield.
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Rays' Joe McCarthy: Dealing with back problems
Rotowire
Manager Kevin Cash relayed Wednesday that McCarthy has been shut down for the past several days due to back problems, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports.
McCarthy previously dealt with back problems last season, limiting him to 53 appearances between three minor-league affiliates. Due to the recurring nature of the symptoms, the Rays could err on the side of caution and keep McCarthy out of Grapefruit League action before optioning him to their minor-league camp. The outfielder is slated to open the season at Triple-A Durham.
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Rays' Joe McCarthy: Added to 40-man roster
Rotowire
McCarthy (hand) had his contract purchased by the Rays on Tuesday, Juan Toribio of The Athletic reports.
McCarthy was selected to the 40-man roster to ensure protection from the Rule 5 draft. Despite suffering a broken right hand while playing in the Arizona Fall League, he's expected to be ready for spring training and should open the season at Triple-A Durham.
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Rays' Joe McCarthy: Fractures hand in Fall League
Rotowire
McCarthy fractured his right hand playing in the Arizona Fall League, though he's expected to be ready for spring training, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Prior to suffering the injury, McCarthy hit .239/.375/.370 with one homer across 13 Arizona Fall League games. The 24-year-old spent all of the 2018 season with Triple-A Durham, slashing .269/.377/.513 with eight homers and three steals across 47 games -- he missed nearly three months with a back injury. While he's expected to be fully healthy in time to compete for an Opening Day roster spot, McCarthy seems more likely to open the 2019 campaign at Triple-A.
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Rays' Joe McCarthy: On 7-day DL with undisclosed injury
Rotowire
McCarthy is on the 7-day disabled list at Triple-A Durham with an undisclosed injury.
The 24-year-old Virginia product has primarily played left field this year, but has also seen time in center field and at first base. He hit an impressive .265/.385/.479 with five home runs and two steals in 143 plate appearances prior to the injury. Given how slowly the Rays promote players, a promotion to the majors may not be in the cards until 2019, even if McCarthy is able to return and pick up where he left off.
