The Rangers announced today that they’ve designated veteran right-hander Kyle Lohse for assignment and recalled right-hander Nick Martinez from Triple-A Round Rock to make tonight’s start.
[Related: Updated Texas Rangers Depth Chart]
The 37-year-old Lohse made just two starts for the Rangers after signing a minor league deal, surrendering 13 runs on 15 hits and five walks with three strikeouts in 9 1/3 innings against the Twins and Angels. His minor league deal came with a base salary of $2MM, so he’ll receive the pro-rated version of that for his work with Texas, amounting to about $951K.
Lohse struggled not only in his brief big league stint but also at Triple-A this season, where he posted a 5.06 ERA in 10 starts with Round Rock. Lohse’s 6.3 K/9, 2.1 BB/9 and a 36.2 percent ground-ball rate. Lohse was quite effective into his mid-30s, logging a 3.28 ERA over four seasons from 2011-14 as a member of the Cardinals and Brewers, but he hit a wall in 2015 — the final season of a three-year, $33MM pact with Milwaukee — and limped to a 5.85 ERA in 152 1/3 innings of work. The Rangers could try to outright him to Triple-A to keep him in the organization for depth purposes, though the well-seasoned veteran has the service time to reject and retain the remainder of his salary while searching for an opportunity elsewhere.
While Lohse has been horrendous in Texas, does the Rangers FO truly think they can contend in October with Nick Martinez pitching every five days? This move could indicate a trade with the Rays or another team is more imminent …
Cashner Norris will be acquired for Gallo additional solid prospect. Not profar though.
Cashner’s 4.79 ERA is one of the most pitcher-friendly parks would be around 6.50 in Texas. They’re not getting Gallo for those two.
Dream on
The Rangers will have to make a trade for pitching to stay in the hunt. I don’t know what they were thinking signing Lohse (Probably the same thing the Angels were thinking with Lincecum). Pitchers that pitch “backwards” are effective for the first six weeks of the season before hitters get their timing and the weather is cold. Ervin Santana with the Twins might be a possibility as well.
Orioles should take a flier on lohse