ARLINGTON - On Tuesday, Carlos Tocci, the oft overmatched Rule 5 pick the Rangers have spent the season protecting on their roster like a precious stone, finally moved into the starting lineup for the foreseeable future.

And here's what you should know about that development: It really has nothing to do with Carlos Tocci.

If it sounds confusing, there's good reason, because it is.

Hey, it was about as confusing as the night's game, a 13-10 loss to Oakland in 10 innings. The Rangers blew an eight-run lead, wasted the first grand slam of Elvis Andrus' career, allowed trade chip Keone Kela to throw a career-high 40 pitches and ended up turning to Austin Bibens-Dirkx on two days of rest after he threw 87 pitches.

As for the move: It is mostly about fixing Delino DeShields, who found himself shipped to Triple-A Round Rock after a 1 for 38 skid dropped his batting average to .204 and his on-base percentage to an even .300. It is partly about fortifying an overworked bullpen with more long arms to mop up the mess that has become the 2018 season.

That Tocci was left as the starter sure seemed like an afterthought.

"I think the reason was two-fold," Rangers manager Jeff Banister said when asked about what prompted the club's decisions Tuesday. "We felt like we needed another arm to help cover us out in the bullpen. Then, the second part of that is to give Delino an opportunity to go to Round Rock and kind of unplug a little bit.

"Our discussion was that he's been a dynamic player for us," Banister added. "He's going to continue to be a dynamic player for us. But to get back to the guy he is, the leadoff hitter, the run scorer, he's got to focus in on the on-base, got to increase the opportunities that he has to score."

Banister went on for another 200 words or so on this particular question. Not once did the names "Carlos," or "Tocci," come up. That seemed a bit odd, for a team that is now all about the future, considering the best thing you can say about Tocci, 22, is he might have one. You can look at his lean build and his long strides and see an above average defender who might have some speed. Whether he will ever hit, man, that's the question.

Tocci, who began the day hitting .105 in 38 at-bats over the first four months of the season, did have two hits Tuesday. He has no steals and no attempts. And yet the Rangers have done gymnastics with the roster to make sure they didn't have to offer him back to Philadelphia as is protocol associated with taking a Rule 5 pick off the roster. Last month, the Rangers sent out reliever Chris Martin and acknowledged it was not due to a deficiency, but because of the "roster." The "roster," of course, being the ability to hold on to Tocci.

It's a lot to do for a guy who, according to numerous scouts, profiles as an extra defender, at best.

But you can look at DeShields and already see an above average defender - fangraphs.com had him listed as the third-best center fielder in defensive runs saved as of Tuesday while the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR) ranked him as the No. 1 defensive center fielder in the majors for the first half of the season - and a guy who is already a disruptive force on the bases.

What DeShields hasn't done this year is allow himself to reach base enough. He's been too passive at the plate, Banister seemed to indicate. The Rangers want DeShields to be the defender he has become this year and the offensive force he was a year ago.

DeShields has had other ideas: He wants to be more than that and maybe he's tried too hard. At one point, Banister all but said that calling him a "hard tryer," which is reminiscent of something the late Johnny Oates used to say: "Sometimes you have to try easier."

"I always want to be the guy that improves," DeShields said. "They want me to be the guy I have been before, but I'm better than that. But being on-base is the base of my game. I think I've gotten so caught up in other things that I've lost focus on that a little. I've got to go find myself."

DeShields said all this while standing at what had been his locker moments earlier. He seemed a bit stunned but didn't immediately leave the clubhouse as players sent out on option often do. He stuck around most of the afternoon and had another conversation with Banister in the dugout before the game. Banister draped his hands around DeShields' shoulders. DeShields looked him straight in the eye and nodded after each statement.

He showed accountability and purpose.

"I don't want to struggle, but in some sense, I have to be thankful for it," DeShields said. "I'm going to find every way to get back. I don't ever feel defeated. I don't think anybody is better than me. I know I can change the game."

The Rangers are giving him the chance to do that again.

By making Carlos Tocci the center fielder of the moment.