Rangers agree to 1-year deal with reliever Robertson (report)
5:39 AM UTC
The Rangers are bolstering their bullpen in anticipation of one other World Collection inch, agreeing to a one-year contract with frail unbiased correct-hander David Robertson, fixed with a file from ESPN’s Jeff Passan.
The membership has no longer confirmed the deal, which is pending a physical and reportedly within the $11-12 million vary. The 40-man roster is fleshy, so a corresponding transfer ought to apply when the signing is legit.
Robertson used to be, for the 2d consecutive season, considered one of many more highly sought-after relievers readily available at the 2023 Closing date, however the transition after his July 28 substitute from the Mets to the Marlins – his fifth crew since August 2021 — used to be especially brutal. In 10 August appearances, he pitched to a 9.00 ERA and used to be demoted from the nearer position entering the home stretch of Miami’s playoff push.
He did glean better following the demotion, on the opposite hand, permitting unbiased correct two runs over his final 11 traditional-season appearances and ending the year with a 3.03 ERA and 78 strikeouts in 65 1/3 innings.
Getting into his 15th Foremost League season, Robertson’s 793 traditional season and 42 postseason appearances are the 2d and third most amongst intriguing pitchers, respectively. In Could moreover, he modified into unbiased correct the 14th pitcher in AL/NL historical past to myth 1,000 strikeouts as a reliever, and his career 11.8 K/9 is the sixth perfect within the Unusual Period amongst pitchers and not using a longer lower than 500 IP.
Despite the incontrovertible fact that 2024 would be his age-39 season, Robertson did undergo Tommy John surgical treatment in August 2019, which, as smartly as to constructing a two-year gap in his Foremost League resume, appears to be like to have revitalized his career. Since his return with the Rays in August 2021, he’s posted a 2.87 ERA with 175 strikeouts in 141 innings (11.2 K/9).
Robertson will provide a remarkable wished boost to the Rangers’ bullpen going into 2024 as he joins Kirby Yates as an offseason addition.
Texas performed 24th in MLB in bullpen ERA (4.77) within the usual season, while going unbiased correct 30-for-63 (47.6 p.c) in keep opportunities. The unit stepped up in a wide plan within the direction of the postseason inch, especially gamers fancy José Leclerc and Josh Sborz. Robertson will provide remarkable more stability than the membership seen last year.
While Leclerc doubtless enters Spring Coaching main the dialog at nearer — having reclaimed the job after a dominant postseason — manager Bruce Bochy will exiguous query assessment all alternate choices in high-leverage eventualities. Robertson used to be 18-of-24 on saves in 2023, which used to be better than every Texas reliever last season aside from Will Smith, who went 22-of-27, however lost the nearer job down the stretch.
With Smith and Aroldis Chapman departing in free agency, the additions of Robertson and Yates are a grounding force for a bullpen in remarkable want of stabilization.