The Rangers have declined club options over catcher Robinson Chirinos and pitchers Doug Fister, Matt Moore, and Martin Perez. That’s a surprising move on the veteran backstop, though all three hurlers seemed destined to be sent onto the open market.
The Texas organization has also announced a long list of players who were outrighted from the 40-man roster. Austin Bibens-Dirkx, Clayton Blackburn, Brandon Mann, Carlos Perez, and Ryan Rua are all weighing outright assignments after seemingly clearing waivers.
Chirinos, 34, had seemed a fairly easy choice to remain behind the dish in Texas. His option had risen in value to $4.5MM due to plate-appearance escalators, Joel Sherman of the New York Post notes on Twitter, but the team will pay him $1MM just to walk away.
While Chirinos is not noted for his skill behind the dish — in particular, he slipped to dreadful framing ratings in 2018 — he’s a highly respected player. And he also has consistently delivered much more offensive than the average catcher, with a .233/.324/.438 career slash and 35 home runs over the 735 plate appearances he has accrued since the start of 2017.
All three pitchers will be looking for bounceback opportunities after forgettable seasons. Fister will receive a $500K buyout; his option was priced at $4.5MM. The Moore deal included a $750K buyout, which he’ll take home in lieu of a $10MM payday. Perez, meanwhile, gets $1MM in total buyouts as the club passes on its chance to keep him in 2019 ($7.5MM) and 2020 ($9MM).
Would have picked up Chirinos.
Man they are getting rid of everybody
That’s bad?
Martin Perez was a stud 2 years ago… dang it’s crazy how times change
Stud? He was a high regarded prospect that’s never put it together for an extended amount of time
Speaking as a Rangers fan, Martin Perez was never a stud . Number 4 starter at best
He was pretty good back in 2013 but that’s been it.
Moore, Fister and Perez were obvious, but damn, they must’ve really soured on Chirinos.
I am shocked that they didn’t exercise the option on Chirinos. Maybe they bring him back on a lesser deal?
It was only 3 million I can’t see him taking less than that.
Is Jon finally ready for a full teardown?!
I get all except Chirinos
Surprised me too. I don’t understand that one
I can see the Pirates picking up Moore or Perez for Uncle Ray’s and cousin Justin’s next reclaim project.
Remember when Matt Moore was a good pitcher?
Do the Rangers have any catchers left?
No catchers and no more starting pitchers either….
I would rather have no SPs than what they trotted out there every night last year.
What’s the story on Chirinos? I never follow the Rangers
It’s a surprising move; Chirinos, offensively, is a bit like Grandal – power and decent OBP numbers. Chirinos’ defense isn’t particularly good, however, He hits way better than most catchers, so theoretically he’d be a nice backup to a defense-only catcher like Molina or Hedges or maybe a starter on a second-division team like the Marlins or O’s.
Since when is Molina a defense-only catcher? He was one of the top five offensive catchers in the majors this year in offensive war while catching an obscene amount of innings, what more does he have to do? Lol
I would definitely pick up Perez and Moore on a minor league deal. They are still young and if they figure it out the ceiling is worth it
Shocked about Chirinos. Are they thinking kiner-falefa to catch? Not sure what they do behind the plate.
I checked the stats on Chirinos. He’s mediocre at best. Not a great defensive catcher. Easily replaceable by someone younger and cheaper.
Perez has never been a stud – just a gigantic head case.
Chirinos is a head-scratcher – they pay people more than this to just leave.
Even a stud catcher isn’t catching 162 – and Chirinos has been a back up in the past..,just a ridiculous move.
I’m assuming this means Kiner-Falefa is being seen as a legit catcher
Surprising that they cut Robbie. But the Rangers do have a number of young catchers in the miners, they must feel like one of those is the future and Kiner-falefa is the short term.
Chirinos simply strikes out too much on the same team with Odor and Gallo. You can live with one guy like that and maybe two but not 3 of them.