MLB Trade Rumors 2014: Carlos Pena Returns to Rangers After 13 Years

Carlos Pena is officially back in Major League Baseball after the Texas Rangers reacquired him on June 24.

The Texas Rangers was the very same team that drafted Pena in 2001. He moved on from Class AAA and debuted in MLB with the Rangers. According to a Yahoo! Sports article, Pena was the 10th overall draft pick in 1998. He was 0 for 4 with a couple of strikeouts in the Rangers' loss against Detroit with a final score of 8-2.

In a Seattle Times report, Pena shared his excitement on being reunited with the team, "God is good, man. Here I am, where it all started for me and it's truly very special." He added, "Just to think back where it all started... This is crazy. I was looking at a picture I had of my first at-bat ever, and it was with a Rangers uniform. My wife sent it to me this morning."

Pena recently signed a deal in the minor league to move to Class AAA Round Rock. He hit .333 or 8 for 24 and a home run in seven games with the team before being signed by the Texas Rangers. His Round Rock contract was bought by the Rangers. Pena is now 36 years old.

Ron Washington, manager of the Rangers, talked about designating Brad Snyder for assignment and putting Pena in. He said, "We just brought in a first baseman to play first base, and he has a presence. He may be a little older, but he has presence. Throw something in the wrong spot, and he will hurt you. He knows how to play around that bag. He knows what to do, he knows where to be. It's second nature to him."

Pena played 22 games for the Texas Rangers before being traded to Oakland Athletics. He also played for several other MLB clubs like Tampa Bay, Boston, Detroit, Houston, Chicago Cubs and Kansas City. In 2009, he became an All-Star while playing for Tampa Bay after having an AL-high 39 home runs. He trained during the spring with the Los Angeles Angels. Thereafter, he was let go.

He said, "I was training. I was staying ready. I had faith that something was going to happen. At the same time, I didn't want to force it. I wanted to make sure it was right and it was the right spot, the right situation."

In the afternoon of June 24, Pena was at the clubhouse of the Rangers at Globe Life Park.