The Rangers agreed to sign Colby Lewis to a two-year, $5MM deal, according to Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports. Lewis, 30, posted a 2.96 ERA, 9.49 K/9, and 0.97 BB/9 in 176.3 innings for the Hiroshima Carp last year and was similarly dominant in '08. Lewis, who originally came up with the Rangers, would be a steal if he approaches his Japanese ball numbers.
He can earn up to $500K each year for reaching certain unkown incentives. The Rangers, who would like to bring in a catcher, are nearing their payroll limit. As MLB.com's T.R. Sullivan points out, they will have to clear roster space for Khalil Greene and their new pitcher.
Ben Nicholson-Smith contributed to this post.
I wonder how much it’s for.
who really cares? its not like this guy is the next dice-k
And you know this because…
Those numbers are pretty amazing even if it was Japan. If a guy put up those kind of numbers in AAA people would be very excited about him.
Maybe if he was 10 years younger and putting up those numbers, but nobody’s getting excited for a 30 year old in AAA.
Haha… Cliff Lee put up some ugly numbers until the 2008 season – when he was 29, i think. At one point, I thought the Indians couldn’t give that guy away.
Some people are late bloomers. Who knows…
sice when do the rangers spend any money? weird
NPB to Arlington.. good luck friend.
since when do the rangers spend money?
NPB typically deflates ERA Ill give you that, but those K/BB numbers are pretty stellar.
There is a few dudes on YouTube who have 100’s of NPB Vids and it looked like Lewis had stellar stuff.. but a good chunk of those hitters he faces are weak and you can afford to pound the zone and not worry about getting hurt.
I dunno about this move. I’d like to know how the Rangers have money to make moves unless the sale to Ryan’s group is a lot closer than it looks. I wonder too who gets thrown off the major league roster to make room for these new guys.
I’ve posted them before, but will do so once more as NPB stats are not always the easiest to find and usually need to be calculated for advanced metrics08 – 9.25 K/9, 1.37 BB/9, 6.78 K/BB, 0.61 HR/9, .305 babip, 1.00 WHIP, 2.68 ERA, 2.51 FIP, 178 IP09 – 9.49 K/9, 0.97 BB/9, 9.79 K/BB, 0.66 HR/9, .310* babip, 1.00 WHIP, 2.96 ERA, 2.32 FIP, 176 IP(*Don’t have complete 2009 stats so cant calculate the exact BAbip – it is about .310)These are the AAA stats from 2006/07, the last two years he played in the US.06 – 6.34 K/9, 2.19 BB/9, 2.89 K/BB, 0.79 HR/9, .311 babip, 1.29 WHIP, 3.26 ERA, 3.81 FIP, 147 IP07 – 9.13 K/9, 2.16 BB/9, 4.22 K/BB, 0.75 HR/9, .264 babip, 0.97 WHIP, 1.88 ERA, 3.01 FIP, 95 IP You have to figure Japan decreases walks a little bit, but other then those BB rates the numbers are consistent. In fact, if you increase the BB rates to the 2.15 from the minors, the FIP goes to 2.8- both seasons. Increase the HR rate a slight bit, and you are right at the 3.00 range FIP of 2007 AAA. So he is pretty much off 4 straight nearly identical seasons like that spread over Japan and AAA.Also, people questioning him need to remember that he hasnt pitched in the majors since 2003 really. He is an extreme GB pitcher (seen in ML, AAA and Japan) with the ability to really miss bats shown the last 4 seasons. That generally means success in the Majors and as long as his stuff translates, he could be looking at similar rates and success to a guy like Depmster in the least.
Nice move by the Rangers (provided the money is fine). Don’t think you can count on the guy but it’s worthwhile to take a shot on him and see if you have anything there.
Who will be dropped from the 40 man roster to add green and Lewis?
Joaquin Arias and either Luis Mendoza or Joe Inglett .
Thanks.
None of those three will be dropped, they will take Matt Brown and Ray Olmedo, who have no value to the Rangers, off the 40 man roster to make room for Greene and Lewis.
None of those three will be dropped, they will take Matt Brown and Ray Olmedo, who have no value to the Rangers, off the 40 man roster to make room for Greene and Lewis.
Matt Brown and Ray Olmedo are not on the 40 man roster they are both non roster invitees to spring training camp
Matt Brown or Ray Olmedo are not on the 40 man roster…. they are both non roster invitees to spring training….. they will probably drop Arias and Mendoza off of the 40 man roster to add Greene and Lewis……. I like the Lewis signing because it gives us another veteran pitcher on the staff to help our young kids