The Rangers announced this morning that they’ve re-signed right-hander Matt Bush and left-hander Zac Curtis to minor league contracts with invitations to Major League Spring Training. Also joining the Rangers organization on minor league deals that include Major League Spring Training invites are right-hander (and MLBTR contributor) Tim Dillard and infielder Chase d’Arnaud. Bush and Curtis were non-tendered by the Rangers on Nov. 30.
Bush, 33, is already known to be out for at least the first half of the 2019 season after undergoing September surgery to repair a partial tear of the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow. It should be noted that Bush did not have Tommy John surgery, though the exact nature of the procedure he underwent was never announced. The most notable alternative to Tommy John surgery is “primary repair” surgery, made most famous by former Cardinals and Royals right-hander Seth Maness.
Regardless of the specifics, the Rangers again indicated in today’s release that Bush could be ready to pitch in July 2019. He was a useful reliever for the Texas organization from 2016-17 but struggled to a 4.70 ERA with career-worst K/9 (7.4) and BB/9 (5.5) marks in 23 innings of work this past season.
Curtis, 26, was an August waiver claim by the Rangers out of the Phillies organization but didn’t fare well in his minimal time in Texas. In just 6 2/3 innings, the lefty was tagged for seven earned runs on six hits and a staggering nine walks. Curtis did punch out eight hitters in that time, but control has been a considerable problem for him throughout his Major League tenure. In 38 career innings, he’s issued 34 free passes, hit another six batters and thrown four wild pitches (two in that tiny sample with the Rangers). That said, it’s a small sample of big league innings, and Curtis has thrown quite well in the upper minors, where he’s averaged better than 10 strikeouts per nine innings with much better control in both Double-A and Triple-A.
For the 35-year-old Dillard, today’s announcement marks the end of an era. A former 34th-round draft pick back in 2002, Dillard has spent his entire career in the Brewers system and reached the Majors on four separate occasions. Though he enjoyed solid numbers in 2011-12 (65 2/3 innings, 7.7 K/9, 2.5 BB/9, 4.25 ERA, 3.51 FIP), he hasn’t been back to the Majors since. That hasn’t stopped Dillard from developing a cult following through his social media antics, his guest writing here on MLBTR and his impressive bilingual lip-syncing abilities.
A veteran of 12 seasons at the Triple-A level, Dillard will join the Rangers in hopes of returning to the Majors after an absence of more than a half decade. His numbers took a turn for the worse after the Brewers’ Triple-A club moved from Nashville to Colorado Springs, but he’ll be back in Nashville once again if he opens the season in Triple-A, following some offseason realignment of Triple-A franchises.
As for d’Arnaud, he’ll turn 32 in January and vie for a utility role in spring — not dissimilar from the one he had with the Giants in 2018. Last season in San Francisco, d’Arnaud hit .215/.253/.366 with three homers in an even 100 trips to the plate. He’s spent parts of seven seasons in the Majors and is a career .222/.273/.316 hitter in 599 plate appearances. The former fourth-round pick has played every position on the diamond except catcher and will give the organization some infield depth — an area of perhaps increased importance as the Rangers near a deal to allow recent waiver claim Carlos Asuaje to play in Korea.
X.
Look out, Houston!
The Astros are too busy self-destructing to care.
Yes they continue to self-destruct as they put a competitive team on the field, unlike your Rangers who trot out a second baseman who isn’t even good enough to hold Altuve’s jockstrap. Get a life you salty bum.
Astros win one World Series and their forget that the rangers ran them from 2004-2014, you had to completely suck D*** for 10 years before your team was worth a damn. It’s okay though, us rangers fans are laughing with our collection of silver boots.
You can have your silver boots… I’ll take the ring that the Rangers have failed to win twice and wont even sniff for the next decade…
You guys had the chance to claim First Texas team to win a title but y’all choked! And are you really comparing the Silver Boot to a World Series Title?! Go ahead, you can win the silver boot for the rest of time and i’ll take that World Series trophy at the end of the season.
I strongly dislike the Astros but the notion that they’re self-destructing is laughable. With the way they work, Josh James and Brad Peacock will probably be really good starters next year.
“I strongly dislike the Astros”
Why?
He doesn’t need a reason. I hate all sorts of teams for all sorts of reasons. Some for no reason at all.
There’s hardly a less-offensive franchise in the history of the sport, than the Astros. Senators/Twins, perhaps. Expos maybe, prior to changing gender.
congrats rim
tim
Tim Dillard let’s go!!!
Tiiiiiiiiim
Ranger danger – stranger anger.
I am glad to see Matt Bush with the Rangers again. He pitched well in 2016 and 2017. Good move Daniels
In response, the Angels have signed Tim Dierkes as a backup catcher.
Yep, another long season in Anaheim.
… wasting Mike Trout’s time. Odd choice for a baseball franchise.
Was hoping Tim was gonna continue doing some analyst work for the Crew, he’s got some talent in front of the camera… Way better then Jerry Augustine..SMH
Yay Timmy. Good job bud. Best of luck to you.
Keep the ball down.
Bush certainly has a sordid history off of the baseball field. Couple that with his recent injury and I’d imagine this was probably an easy decision for him because it was probably the only offer he was extended..
Well aren’t you just a ray of sunshine.
You been living under a rock or something? Bush’s “sordid history” is not news to anyone. He probably came back to Texas because it’s familiar and for people with problems of severe addiction, familiarity is sometimes the best thing.
Yeah, Tim Dillard! I’ll be rooting for you man!
That’ll do Tim. That’ll do.
slow morning for the writers here. Feel bad for the dude who had to take time and write this article lol
He has a history of behavior of this nature though. Fans raise all sorts of complaints if a player does peds but bush seems to get a free pass because he did his time.
In my opinion his career should have been over with that drunk hit and run.
I hope Bush makes the HOF just to spite you.
The prison league HOF?
I have no sympathy for those that drive drunk and risk the lives of others especially millionaires who can easily afford to take a cab
Everything I’ve read about him has left me thinking this guy is scum that thinks he’s special because he’s better then most at baseball.
He’ll probably be out of the league in a few years so no plaque for him. Still a shot at biggest bust number 1 overall pick though.
he nearly killed a guy and basically disabled the victim, not sure how Matt Bush gets a pass here just because he’s a baseball player
He may have gotten off lightly but by no means did he get a pass. I believe he served 34 months in jail , paid $200k in civil lawsuit and lost the prime earning years of his career. Debatable whether this is harsh enough for crime committed but “gets a pass” implies he paid a fine and walked away.
Tim Dillard needs to host a chat on here some time.
Congrats, Tim. Reading this made me smile. Weird cuz I’ve never seen you play before but reading your posts over the past couple years makes me happy you caught on with another organization. Go get ’em, dude.
Congrats to Dim Tillard! Best of luck!
If he doesn’t make the Rangers bring him back to FS Wisconsin — he’s a natural
Nice, go Tim!
Yay Tim!
TIM!
Tim Dillard for the win. Do u think his monologue had anything to do with it?
Do it Dim!
Nooooooooo Tim Dillard nooooooooo
Goodbye Tim best of luck Milwaukee will miss you
TIM DILLARD!!!!!
Just not understanding these Ranger moves,Why sign so many hurt players?