The Rangers announced that they’ve given right-hander Zach McAllister his unconditional release. It’s a somewhat surprising development given that McAllister had signed a Major League contract with Texas in the offseason and enjoyed a solid Spring Training to date. In a dozen Cactus League innings, he’s allowed four runs on 12 hits and two walks with 10 strikeouts.
With McAllister now out of the fold, the locks for the Texas bullpen include Jose Leclerc, Jesse Chavez, Shawn Kelley, Chris Martin and Jeffrey Springs (the latter of whom was informed last week he’d made the team). Right-hander Jeanmar Gomez is also in line to make the roster following the sudden retirement of Jason Hammel. Out-of-options righty Connor Sadzeck, presumably, is a candidate to open the year in new skipper Chris Woodward’s bullpen as well, though offseason acquisition Kyle Bird is also still in camp.
McAllister, 31, struggled through an awful 2018 campaign with the Indians and Tigers, posting a combined 6.20 ERA in 45 innings of relief between the two clubs. He did turn in a quality 39-to-10 K/BB ratio in that time, though, and McAllister’s 95.3 mph average fastball velocity was as strong as ever. Prior to that ugly season, McAllister was a mainstay in the Cleveland bullpen from 2015-17, where he worked to a 2.99 ERA with 10.0 K/9 against 3.3 BB/9 through 183 1/3 innings of relief.
Something must have happened legally that caused this to happen.
Should’ve made it. I hate when proven vets like this perform well in spring yet get beat out for jobs.
Is there a pitcher he should have beaten out for a job? Hate it all you want, give a name suitable for McAllister to have edged out.
Martin, Springs, Gomez, or sedzack.
See, that wasn’t so hard!
Springs is LH so that’s a hard no. Everyone else you mentioned I agree.
Wouldn’t be shocked to see him go back to Cleveland.
Oh please NO!
I sure hope not
I will throw up.
Potentially Toronto. Injuries plus vet arms plus ex-Indian execs equals possibility.
Can’t see what would motivate them to bring back part of the problem in that train wreck of a bullpen from last year. If they can resist bringing back Tomlin, then their will power should be sufficient to pass on McAllister.
Seems very likely he requested this as he showed himself worthy of the club. And this comes immediately after the surprise Jason Hammel news
Assuming he did request it, do have to ask, what’s going on that pitchers are completing spring then jumping ship on this Rangers club?
Maybe he didn’t want to face the Tribe tonight?
Why are people dumping on McAllister? Solid career numbers, gets Ks, can work long relief…seems like a bounceback player.
Nope. The fact that Cleveland released him last year while having one of the worst bullpens in the game should say it all.
Great basketball player back in the day at IVC Chilicothe. Has had a nice career