The Rangers have released right-hander Burke Badenhop, Baseball America’s Matt Eddy reports. The 33-year-old ACES client had signed a minor league deal with Texas early in the season after missing out on a spot in the Nationals’ bullpen as a non-roster invitee in Spring Training.
Badenhop pitched 4 2/3 innings with the Rangers’ Triple-A affiliate this year, allowing five runs on eight hits and a walk with three strikeouts in that small sample of work. While not a household name, Badenhop has carved out a role as a steadily productive middle reliever over the past seven seasons in the Majors. In that time, he’s averaged 58 games/66 innings per year to go along with a 3.50 ERA, 6.1 K/9, 2.6 BB/9 and a 54.4 percent ground-ball rate. Badenhop hasn’t been on the disabled list since 2009, so a club looking for some durable bullpen depth could certainly give the righty a look on a new minor league deal. Last year, Badenhop posted a 3.93 ERA in 66 1/3 innings as a member of the Reds’ bullpen.
Can’t believe someone in need of middle relief doesn’t grab him pretty quick.. Like detroit.. Seattle etc.. Velocity not down, GB% around career normals, tho do admit don’t recall seeing any of his games with cincy last year, only watching many with Boston and Miami his previous seasons.
Seattle isn’t in need of middle relief.
Red Sox should take a flier on a MiL deal. The way they’re churning through relievers at this point a little miL depth couldn’t hurt.