The Rangers are planning to decline their 2020 club options on newly-acquired catcher Welington Castillo and right-handers Nate Jones and Shawn Kelley, The Athletic’s Levi Weaver reports (Twitter link). Castillo will be bought out for $500K rather than his $8MM salary for 2020. Jones will receive a $1.25MM buyout rather than $3.75MM, and Kelley will get $250K in buyout money rather than $2.5MM in 2020.
Both Castillo and Jones came from the White Sox in trades that were ultimately more about the international bonus money that came into the Rangers’ coffers rather than anything the two veteran players brought to the table. Jones underwent right forearm surgery last season and was already on the 60-day injured list at the time of the deadline day trade, never suiting up for Texas in a game. With this much uncertainty surrounding his health, and Jones’ checkered injury history also looming as a big factor, it perhaps isn’t surprising that the Rangers decided to move on and explore less-risky relief options.
As for Kelley, he said in September that he was planning to retire if his option wasn’t picked up, so today’s news could mark the end of the right-hander’s Major League career. Kelley spent time on the IL due to a biceps injury and a bacterial infection last season, and posted a 4.94 ERA, 8.2 K/9, and 3.91 K/BB rate over 47 1/3 innings when healthy. If this is indeed the end, Kelley has enjoyed a very solid career over 11 seasons as a Major League reliever, posting a 3.80 ERA over 464 2/3 IP and banking over $25MM in career earnings.
Solid 40 minute Ranger career for Castillo.
Hard to be with a team shorter than he was with the Mariners, but I guess it just happened.
That didn’t take long.
did the Rangers litterally just convert real cash into international cash?
Yes.
well clearly I know it as a fact, i just find it curious.
It’s really all their cash. They picked up the ability to spend their cash on the International draft and gave Castillo 500 K to do it. It’s a very strange system.
I think the White Sox
had to send the Rangers
“real money” that
the Rangers now
have the right to
spend internationally…..
No
Interesting that there’s a premium for the international bonus cash. Sort of like when teams would effectively double down due to the penalty after they blew through their limit in the old system.
There must be some International player they’re really interested in. Essentially, they traded 750K in cash (500k Castillo buyout, plus 250K to sign the player) along with the minor league vagabond in exchange for that player.
Rick Hahn doesn’t care about paying for and developing international talent.
The 2012-2017 Orioles would be very jealous.
Not sure what that means. Because if they didn’t care about international talent they never would have signed or traded for Abreu, Moncada, and Robert.
How is this not Texas eating Chicago’s buyouts for just a little international headroom?
They clearly have a prospect they’re acquiring slot room to sign. Yiddi Cappe, maybe? Be glad, that unlike the Sox. the Rangers have decided to invest in their future,
Hey, if it works for Texas. But I’m curious if intentional buyout deferment is somehow morally objectionable?
In Beef’s case, White Sox could have pursued their buyout and let him reach free agency. Now, he’s kinda bought out by two teams in less than a week. Doesn’t seem fair.
I don’t think it really matters to wellington, although I obviously do not know. But it seems to me that 500k is 500k no matter who pays it.