The Rangers have announced a minor-league deal with righty Cody Allen. He’ll receive an invitation to participate in MLB Spring Training.
Southpaw Brandon Mann is also joining the Texas organization. His own minors deal won’t come with a spring invite.
Allen is a classic bounceback candidate. The 31-year-old was a high-quality reliever for years until he ran into a tough 2018 season and then collapsed in the following season.
Last year, Allen’s entire approach was shaken as he lost velocity and suffered a dive in his swinging-strike rate. His walk rate shot up while opposing hitters ran up a 54.5% hard contact rate and 94.3 mph average exit velocity.
Allen does still possess elite fastball spin, so there’s something to build off of. Perhaps a lengthy respite and some tweaking will help him get back on track.
As for Mann, 35, he made a stunning (but brief) late-career MLB debut with the Rangers in 2018. He worked for Japan’s Chiba Lotte Marines last year, turning in 59 1/3 innings of 4.70 ERA pitching with 10.3 K/9 and 4.2 BB/9.
Yikes
Oh no it’s a minor league deal! How will this team weather another 0 risk signing? Fun fact for you pessimists, this signing comes exactly one year to the day after the Rangers signed Hunter Pence to a minor league deal, and like Allen, he was coming off two bad seasons in the majors after excellent seasons in almost every year prior. Not saying Allen will be the next Hunter Pence, but grow the hell up. Always a “comedian” in the comments of these posts.
That escalated quickly
Enjoy. We could not figure out how to make him work. His past 2 season have not gone well. It is not like the Rangers are taking a huge risk here. If he is bad, he can always throw batting practice.
Guy sucks
Yikes for signing a minor league deal with a guy who has had a lot of past success?
Just because you don’t get a spring training invite, doesn’t mean you can’t make the team. See Willie Mays Hayes.
“Mine fell the hardest!”
“Mine are the deadest!”
“Hahahahaha!!”
Black Hammer, White Lightning
No harm on a minor league deal, but dude was toast last year for the Angels. Could not locate his breaking ball so hitters just sat and feasted on his meh fastball.
And feast they did. Allen was one of several pitching “misses” from last season. When you look back, it’s amazing the Halos were 5 games above .500 around the all-star break. Of course before the Titanic sank (for a myriad of reasons).
Yup. The Angels signed Allen, Cahill, and Harvey. Three pitchers, three disasters. They made the Dipoto 4 seem like a decent pickups, Are you a true Angel fan? Can you name the Dipoto four?
Here are the answers if you are curious.
https://www.halosheaven.com/2014/5/28/5759490/the-legend-of-the-dipoto-four
Over a six month period Eppler brought in Robles, Sandoval, Buttrey,
He missed on three one year contracts. But they were only for one year. Would you rather have the Price contract? Or he Evovaldi contract? How about Happ?
One year contracts don’t sting for very long.
How about the Dipoto 1. Clevinger for Pestano.
Unfortunately I’m well aware of the Dipoto 4. Although I have to admit, I’ve never heard the term “Dipoto 4”. The Eppler 3 you mention were pretty brutal as well; although as Mac mentioned, they were short-term headaches.
…
Full disclosure: I went up to Tony Reagins (GM before Dipoto) at Chipotle and offered my recommendation of signing Carl Crawford (at the time). So what the hel! do I know…
hahaaha
Solid analysis. Do you work for ESPN?
Agree he looked like toast last year. However he may get his velocity up a couple of ticks higher than the high 80’s he was throwing at his showcase for teams several weeks ago. More importantly, if Cody can get some of that confidence– that fire back that he had 3 or 4 years ago when on the hill– he will be a useful piece at some point for the Rangers
he was toast his last year with the indians
Cody will surprise many – taking The rest of the year off last year was probably the best thing that could happen for him – look for him to do big things! You’ll earn a spot on the major-league roster is velocity keeps going up this will be a good signing for the Rangers specially with a new Ballpark! It’s funny how everybody is an expert give the guy a chance
At the very least I expect Allen to be good insurance in case Leclerc struggles in the 9th.
Being an Angel fan, I hope he makes the team.
If he makes the team then he’d probably be pitching well, so I’m not sure why you’d want that.
insert laugh emoji
Fastball spin? Please explain…
Fastball spin in terms of RPMs. For example, Josh Lindblom has a high spin rate (2600 RPM) for a ~91 MPH average fastball. Higher the fastball spin, the higher the perceived velocity. Just as you want a lower spin rates on a splitter/changeup. You can read more on it in Fangraphs glossary section.
Mann spent the majority of the year in the NPB MINOR LEAGUE.