Rangers agree to 1-year deal with reliever Robertson (report)
The Rangers are bolstering their bullpen in anticipation of one other World Series run, agreeing to a one-year contract with veteran right-hander David Robertson, in line with a report from ESPN’s Jeff Passan.
The membership has not confirmed the deal, which is pending a bodily and reportedly within the $11-12 million vary. The 40-man roster is full, so a corresponding transfer ought to observe when the signing is official.
Robertson was, for the second consecutive season, one of many extra extremely sought-after relievers accessible on the 2023 Deadline, however the transition after his July 28 commerce from the Mets to the Marlins – his fifth crew since August 2021 — was particularly brutal. In 10 August appearances, he pitched to a 9.00 ERA and was demoted from the nearer position coming into the house stretch of Miami’s playoff push.
He did get well following the demotion, nonetheless, permitting simply two runs over his last 11 regular-season appearances and ending the 12 months with a 3.03 ERA and 78 strikeouts in 65 1/3 innings.
Entering his fifteenth Major League season, Robertson’s 793 common season and 42 postseason appearances are the second and third most amongst energetic pitchers, respectively. In May, he turned simply the 14th pitcher in AL/NL historical past to file 1,000 strikeouts as a reliever, and his profession 11.8 Okay/9 is the sixth highest within the Modern Era amongst pitchers with at the very least 500 IP.
Although 2024 could be his age-39 season, Robertson did endure Tommy John surgical procedure in August 2019, which, along with making a two-year hole in his Major League resume, seems to have revitalized his profession. Since his return with the Rays in August 2021, he’s posted a 2.87 ERA with 175 strikeouts in 141 innings (11.2 Okay/9).
Robertson will present a a lot wanted enhance to the Rangers’ bullpen going into 2024 as he joins Kirby Yates as an offseason addition.
Texas completed twenty fourth in MLB in bullpen ERA (4.77) within the common season, whereas going simply 30-for-63 (47.6 %) in save alternatives. The unit stepped up in a giant method throughout the postseason run, particularly gamers like José Leclerc and Josh Sborz. Robertson will present rather more stability than the membership noticed final 12 months.
While Leclerc doubtless enters Spring Training main the dialog at nearer — having reclaimed the job after a dominant postseason — supervisor Bruce Bochy will little question consider all choices in high-leverage conditions. Robertson was 18-of-24 on saves in 2023, which was higher than each Texas reliever final season besides Will Smith, who went 22-of-27, however misplaced the nearer job down the stretch.
With Smith and Aroldis Chapman departing in free company, the additions of Robertson and Yates are a grounding pressure for a bullpen in a lot want of stabilization.
