The Rangers announced today that they have designated veteran pitcher Drew Smyly for assignment. His 40-man and active roster spots will go to fellow lefty Locke St. John, whose contract was selected.
In a pair of other moves also involving southpaw hurlers, the Texas club called up Kyle Bird and optioned Joe Palumbo.
While rehabbing from Tommy John surgery, Smyly signed a two-year, $10MM deal with the Cubs in anticipation of a full and productive 2019 season. The Rangers acquired that contract last fall, installing the lefty in a rotation full of salvaged former quality starters.
Unfortunately, Smyly’s attempt to come back after two missed campaigns has simply not gone as hoped. He has been torched for 8.42 earned runs per nine in 51 1/3 innings on the season, with his struggles continuing after a move to the bullpen.
Though Smyly is back to his customary 91 mph fastball range, he’s having a hard time coaxing hitters to offer at pitches out of the zone (22.4% chase rate). With batters not being fooled by the breaking stuff, they’re having an easy time drawing walks (just under six per nine) from the typically under-control Smyly. And they are teeing off on his mistakes, having already launched 19 long balls against him.
Still only thirty years of age, Smyly may well have a second act left. He was at times a highly effective starter with the Tigers and Rays. If he’s to get back on track, though, it’ll likely mean spending some time working on things at an extended spring facility and then earning another shot at the big leagues through some time in the minors.
O baby nice. TO THE METS HERE WE COME!
No I heard our Mets are signing the 1 arm man from The Fugitive
lol
st locke was a stud in OOTP
Lmao he got cut before the season and signed in Korea in my first season
Should have never pitched in world baseball classic hasn’t been the same since
He may never be Smyly again….
please…..just stop.
No one is going to claim him so I hope they just outright him to AAA and he accepts. Age wise his career shouldn’t be over but he clearly wasn’t ready after so much time away.
I could see the Blue Jays claiming him. I’m sure the top execs are debating it as we speak.
Rays will probably sign him to a minor league contract. He did pretty well with TB and might get us through the dog days…
I could see the White Sox taking a flyer on Drew Smyly for a prorated minimum salary. Their rotation is down to 4 pitchers, surprising Lucas Giolito, struggling Ivan Nova and Reynaldo Lopez along with recent 32-year old “dumpster-dive” pickup Odrisamer Despaigne. Even with top SP prospect Dylan Cease likely debuting within the next month or so the White Sox still lack a lefty in their rotation.
30-year old Smyly would seem like a decent short term gamble with a potentially longer term upside. Carlos Rodon remains the only southpaw starter with a decent chance to be a fixture in the White Sox core rotation going forward and he is just beginning his own recovery from TJ surgery and probably can’t be counted on until the 2021 season which also happens to be his last year of arbitration eligibility.
The White Sox already have a trio of TJ rotation rehabbers in Michael Kopech, Rodon and prospect Dane Dunning. Why not add another who is much further along in the recovery process? Perhaps Don Cooper can help fix what ails Smyly which seems to mainly be an issue of command which had not been a problem for Smyly when he was a solid starter for the Tigers and Rays. His velocity is back to previous levels and he certainly knew how to pitch effectively with a 91 mph heater in the past.
Besides, you just can’t have too many Smyly’s on your baseball team. The White Sox already have the ever smiley face of Eloy Jimenez in LF. Why not add another to the rotation in Drew? :-)
Dude was good for most of his career and has been pretty under the radar, honestly. Sad to see him struggle after he was away for so long, but at the MLB minimum, he seems worthy of a flier. Despaigne is more of a gamble IMO and I have more optimism that Smyly will return to something resembling his former self than Despaigne putting up at least middling results.
Smyly might not be the answer, but a dice roll for a team hovering near .5000 seems worth it.
There are better options out there than this guy. Struggling way too much.
Sadly, not a surprise…..
Smyly may be donne, but at least his DFA will allow Locke to debut with a tabula rasa statwise.
I wonder if St John is a Locke down lefty?
That was terrible
Come to the Red Sox. Where DD drafted you.
Yeah, but Trader Dave also gave him away for Robbie Ray. Then, after a very brief period with the Tigers, he traded Ray away. Then, I think both became All Stars.
locke st. john and peter Fairbanks on the same squad. oh my.
A guy with his injury history should have been in the bullpen all along. Be the long man while regaining command
Orioles or Marlins might be willing to give Smyly another chance.
Here’s an idea…… I’m good with signing Smyly to AAA if he makes that far but why hasn’t Daniels pursued extending both Santana and Forsythe. Those guys have been a godsend for the Rangers this season. And something HAS to happen with Odor……surely he has a hangnail or something that could land him on the il followed by a ” lengthy rehab at Nashville or Frisco. Actually the same could apply to Guzman! The two aforementioned guys have proven they could replace both Odor & Guzman and the result would be an uptick in offense all while providing spots for the upcoming return of Gallo & Pence…..wow!! Seems like common sense!!!!