Maness said Wednesday that he has retired from professional baseball, Jim Hayes of FOX Sports Midwest reports.

EDGE Analysis

Based on Hayes' report, Maness may still be open to resuming his career if the right offer comes along, but for now, the 32-year-old is turning his focus to transitioning into coaching. Maness most recently pitched in affiliated ball in 2019, posting a 5.38 ERA over 117 innings with the Rangers' Triple-A affiliate in Nashville. Prior to that, Maness made 252 relief appearances with the Cardinals and Royals between 2013 and 2017, logging a 3.21 ERA, 1.28 WHIP, 5.6 K/9, 47 holds and seven saves across 247 innings.

Maness signed a minor-league contract with the Rangers, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.

EDGE Analysis

Maness will immediately report to Triple-A Nashville, where he is scheduled to start Thursday. The veteran right-hander hasn't pitched in the majors since 2017, though he owns a respectable 3.21 ERA across 247 career big-league innings (five seasons). Look for Maness to serve as organizational pitching depth for Texas.

Maness agreed to a contract earlier in February with the High Point Rockers of the independent Atlantic League of Professional Baseball.

EDGE Analysis

The 30-year-old will look to keep his playing career alive outside of affiliated ball after he was unable to secure a minor-league contract that included an invitation to big-league spring training. Maness has a career 3.21 ERA over 252 career relief appearances in the majors but hasn't surfaced at the game's highest level since 2017 with the Royals.

Maness was granted his release from the Royals on Thursday, Jon Heyman of FanRag Sports reports.

EDGE Analysis

Maness will look to latch on with another organization as a starter. He's appeared in five games for Triple-A Omaha this season -- with only one coming as a starter -- and posted a 4.63 ERA through 11.2 innings of work. The 29-year-old has never started a game in the majors, though he's pitched in 252 contests as a reliever, including eight for Kansas City in 2017.

Maness cleared waivers and has been outrighted to Triple-A Omaha on Friday.

EDGE Analysis

Maness was DFA'd by the Royals on Saturday, and will head to Omaha after clearing waivers. The 28-year-old appeared in eight games at the major-league level this season, posting a 3.72 ERA while giving up 16 hits in 9.2 innings. Without pitching in any high-leverage situations for the team this year, it appears as though Maness will spend the foreseeable future in the minors, barring a series of injuries.

Maness was designated for assignment Saturday, Rustin Dodd of The Kansas City Star reports.

EDGE Analysis

In order to make room on the 40-man roster for Luke Farrell, who is pitching game one of Saturday's doubleheader, the team DFA'd Maness prior to the first pitch. In just eight appearance with the big-league team in 2017, Maness recorded a 3.72 ERA with a 1.86 WHIP and just four strikeouts during 9.2 innings of work.

Maness was optioned to Triple-A Omaha on Tuesday, Jeffrey Flanagan of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

A spot was needed for Jake Junis and Maness was the roster casualty, which makes sense given his lackluster performance through eight appearances so far this season. Maness, once a mainstay in the Cardinals' bullpen, has given up 16 hits (including three homers) in 9.2 low-leverage innings with the Royals since returning from elbow surgery.

Maness gave up a run on four hits (one home run) over an inning of work in Wednesday's loss to Detroit.

EDGE Analysis

Maness' single frame would have been a disaster if not for a double play just before Alex Avila's homer. The long ball was followed up by a double and a single before a flyout ended the inning. The 28-year-old right-hander has been ineffective this year in his low-leverage relief role. Maness owns a 4.32 ERA and 1.92 WHIP through seven games in 2017.

Maness' contract was selected by the Royals on Wednesday.

EDGE Analysis

As expected, Maness is headed up to the majors. Maness has proven to be a solid bullpen option as he owns a career ERA and WHIP of 3.19 and 1.26, respectively. However, Maness isn't one to pile up strikeouts, as he's yet to own a K/9 above 6.54 in his career.

Maness is expected to join the Royals in Tampa Bay, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

EDGE Analysis

The Royals have yet to formally announce any roster moves, but Maness is reportedly en route to Florida and appears primed to return to the majors less than nine months after undergoing elbow surgery. Maness has made three appearances with Triple-A Omaha this season, allowing just one run over six innings. He made 215 appearances with the Cardinals from 2013-15.