Bannister claimed by KC.

The Rangers announced Tuesday that Kansas City claimed righthander John Bannister off waivers. Texas had designated the 25-year-old for assignment on Wednesday to clear a roster spot for infielder Esteban German. Bannister, whom the Rangers signed as an undrafted free agent high school graduate in August 2002, was added to the 40-man roster in November and went 3-3, 5.96 in 38 relief appearances between Frisco and Oklahoma City this season. As an aside, the first time Bannister really opened my eyes was in March of 2005, when he absolutely blew Royals uberprospect Billy Butler away on three straight fastballs in a back-fields minor league spring training game. Bannister obviously opened a lot more (and more important) eyes in the four years since then – particularly in the Arizona Fall League last off-season – but it wouldn't surprise me if a few Royals officials put a check by Bannister's name that day in Surprise. Jamey