Tillman signs minor league deal with Rangers

Former Orioles pitcher Chris Tillman has signed a minor league contract with the Rangers and will report to Triple-A Round Rock, the team announced earlier today.

Tillman declined the Orioles' offer to stay in the organization and pitch for Triple-A Norfolk. He was released on July 25.

The Orioles had to make a decision on Tillman after he completed an injury rehab assignment. He posted a 6.75 ERA and 1.80 WHIP in six starts in the minors after going 1-5 with a 10.46 ERA and 2.21 ERA in seven starts with the Orioles. Opponents batted .365 against him in 26 2/3 innings and he allowed 31 earned runs (32 total) and 42 hits with 17 walks and 13 strikeouts.

The opening day starter from 2014-2016, Tillman hasn't pitched in the majors since May 10 against the Royals, when he surrendered five earned runs (six total) and walked three batters in only 1 1/3 innings. He was charged with seven runs and seven hits in one inning in his previous outing in Anaheim.

Tillman re-signed with the Orioles in spring training, agreeing to a one-year deal that guaranteed $3 million and could have included another $7 million based on innings pitched. He went on the disabled list with a strained muscle in his lower back and never returned to the active roster.

The Rangers are responsible only for the league-minimum rate.

Meanwhile, the Orioles named Double-A Bowie catcher Martin Cervenka as their Minor League Player of the Month for July and Single-A Delmarva left-hander DL Hall as their Pitcher of the Month.

Cervenka posted a .364 average (24-for-66) with seven home runs and 25 RBIs over 20 games. Hall, the club's first-round pick in 2017, allowed two runs and 10 hits in 26 2/3 innings in his five starts.

Center fielder Adam Jones was a guest Wednesday on the "R2C2 is UNINTERRUPTED" podcast co-hosted by Yankees left-hander CC Sabathia.

The interview aired today and included Jones expanding on his reasons for declining to surrender his 10-5 rights, which prevented a trade to the Phillies.

Jones noted how deals can be made in August, with the player needing to pass through waivers.

"There's a lot of trades that still happen at this time, but you can't come to me and ask me to waive my 10-5 rights a few days before the no-trade deadline," Jones said.

"You could have come to me in early July and be like, 'Hey, obviously, the season ain't going where it's going. Would you be willing to waive it three or four weeks prior?' You ask me five days before, I've got a wife and two kids. I ain't just uplifting just because you feel that way."

Jones also said he sensed some animosity coming from the Orioles.

"Yeah, a little bit," he said. "I heard some of (Dan) Duquette's comments now and I'm just like, OK, all right.' You can say what you want, but I earned it."

After rattling off the names of the players traded, Jones added, "But they ain't got no rights. They didn't have it."

Jones isn't letting any of it bother him.

"I don't have any animosity," he said. "I'm still happy as hell."