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Rangers Sign Mike Foltynewicz

By Steve Adams and Connor Byrne | February 10, 2021 at 12:45pm CDT

Feb. 10: The Rangers have announced the signing.

Feb. 5, 5:22pm: Foltynewicz will earn $2MM with incentives, per The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal, who tweets that the deal is done pending a physical. The incentives could reach $500K, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com relays.

2:54pm: The Rangers are closing in on a one-year, Major League contract with free-agent right-hander Mike Foltynewicz, reports Kiley McDaniel of ESPN (via Twitter). Foltynewicz is a client of Excel Sports Management.

Foltynewicz was a quality starter earlier in his career with the Braves, especially in 2018. That year, he threw 183 innings of 2.85 ERA/3.77 SIERA ball while averaging a career-high 96.4 mph on his fastball and posting a well-above-average strikeout percentage of 27.4. But Foltynewicz’s production dropped off in 2019, in which the Braves demoted him to the minors. And though he did enjoy a late-season rebound in 2019, he wasn’t able to carry that into last year.

Foltynewicz made one appearance with the Braves in 2020 (on July 27) and allowed six earned runs on four hits and and four walks in 3 1/3 innings. The 29-year-old’s fastball averaged a startlingly low 90.5 mph in that contest, and the Braves then booted him from their 40-man roster. He went unclaimed on waivers, as no club was willing to pick up the remainder of his salary, and he spent the rest of the year at their alternate site before electing free agency earlier in the offseason.

The right-hander could have elected free agency at the time he was outrighted, but doing so would’ve meant forfeiting the remainder of his salary, as he was just a couple weeks shy of the five years of service time required to reject an outright assignment while still retaining salary. Because he’s shy of that five-year service mark, he’s now controllable for the Rangers through the 2022 season via arbitration.

Foltynewicz will get a chance to bounce back from his horrid 2020 as a member of the Rangers, whose rotation was among the worst in the game last year. Kyle Gibson, Jordan Lyles and Kolby Allard had terrible years a season ago, though Foltynewicz and new acquisitions Dane Dunning and Kohei Arihara could provide reasons for hope.

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70 comments
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Comments

  1. caprabuzz

    3 weeks ago

    Best of luck and good wishes to Folty. Tons of potential and talent if he can overcome whatever plagued him the last couple of years.

    5 Like
    Reply
    • twiker

      3 weeks ago

      Potential and MPH are highly correlated and his plummeted

      Like
      Reply
      • slidepiece

        3 weeks ago

        If it’s between the ears, then maybe he’s fixable and is worth a major league contract. If it’s physical, the the poor ol’ Rangers may have just wasted their time and money.

        Like
        Reply
    • goalieguy41

      3 weeks ago

      Potential? He’s 29.

      Like
      Reply
      • ABStract

        3 weeks ago

        Sure!
        He’s only 29, plenty of good years left if he can fix whatever his issue is and stay healthy
        Makin me feel old here man!
        Unless…here’s hopin you were born in ‘41!? Hahaha
        Unlikely, I know

        1 Like
        Reply
    • FredMcGriff for the HOF

      3 weeks ago

      I liked Folty. Could be his last decent payday if he doesn’t get his body and mind fixed.

      1 Like
      Reply
    • DrDan75

      2 weeks ago

      I think he might have let himself become deconditioned during the delayed start to the season last year. If that’s all it was, and he’s back in playing shape, it might be a good pickup for the Rangers.

      1 Like
      Reply
    • Braves Butt-Head

      2 weeks ago

      He has bone spurs he never got them removed and he is a head case that unravels when anything goes off course

      Like
      Reply
  2. DarkSide830

    3 weeks ago

    hope for their sake he’a fixable. still think he was just a one year wondee though.

    2 Like
    Reply
    • DarkSide830

      3 weeks ago

      *he’s *wonder jeez im all over the place

      4 Like
      Reply
    • DTDATL

      3 weeks ago

      His stuff was always legit but he needed a sports psychologist in the worst way.

      2 Like
      Reply
      • arthur blank_for owner

        3 weeks ago

        remember when he blew up at a fan at a Chick-fil-A years ago asking for an autograph?…And a lot of us took Foltys side (myself definitely included) because the fan called the cops?!….years later now I blame Folty now smh

        Like
        Reply
  3. humphrey x boegarts

    3 weeks ago

    Take that Dodgers!

    7 Like
    Reply
    • Arthur Morgan

      3 weeks ago

      I didn’t LOL, but I COL’d (Chuckled Out Loud).

      Like
      Reply
    • itstimefordodgersbaseball

      3 weeks ago

      Ouch lol

      Like
      Reply
  4. Rangers29

    3 weeks ago

    Rangers13 must be feeling good rn. Idk how I feel about him, but I will give him a chance. I just have a weird feeling we’re looking at Shelby Miller 2.0. Let’s hope he does well though.

    Like
    Reply
    • rangers13

      3 weeks ago

      He has a high upside hopefully, still young, and as long as the salary is reasonable no real risk for Texas. No one had to be traded for him, and with the innings limits likely on Dunning and Cody and probable poor performance of Lyles, it is a minimal risk move. He doesn’t really block anyone either as if Cody, Palumbo, Winn, or Hearns become ready to enter the rotation, Folty goes to the bullpen. If he is doing well he will be a frugal extension or trade chip candidate.

      1 Like
      Reply
      • Rangers29

        3 weeks ago

        If this forces Jordan Lyles out of the rotation then I am behind this move 4000%.

        Like
        Reply
      • Ted

        3 weeks ago

        He’s 29 though… Not THAT young.

        Like
        Reply
        • Cohn Joppolella

          3 weeks ago

          Ted, that last comment makes me feel very old.

          Like
          Reply
    • Daniel Youngblood

      3 weeks ago

      I’m not sure I understand the logic of signing him to a one-year deal. If he sucks, he’s just taking innings from a young starter who could use them. And if he’s good, you’re just rehabbing him for his next team in a likely sub-.500 season anyway.

      2 Like
      Reply
      • Ted

        3 weeks ago

        If he’s good you trade him for a low ceiling prospect or an average, controllable relief pitcher. Something like that.

        3 Like
        Reply
  5. fathead0507

    3 weeks ago

    More dumpster diving by JD.. hope they are saving their $$ for next yrs free agent class

    Like
    Reply
    • Rocket32

      3 weeks ago

      fathead0507 Not sure what you expected JD to do. Trading Lynn was a pretty obvious sign they are punting on next season and using it as a rebuild year. They weren’t a Bauer or LeMahieu signing away from October even with Lynn.

      Like
      Reply
    • CursedRangers

      3 weeks ago

      Bauer’s annual salary is 68% of the Rangers overall payroll

      Like
      Reply
      • Rangers29

        3 weeks ago

        oof

        Like
        Reply
    • Awesom-O

      3 weeks ago

      You realize all teams “dumpster dive” in some way, right? And if they don’t, they’re not doing their jobs.

      4 Like
      Reply
      • brodie-bruce

        3 weeks ago

        this is a low risk high upside move for tex if he’s spot on early he helps limit the innings on you young kids and trade him at the deadline. if he sucks move to the pen of dfa him at worst your out 2mil

        Like
        Reply
  6. Cgoss

    3 weeks ago

    Noooooooo he was supposed to go to the Orioles

    Like
    Reply
  7. juanpursuit

    3 weeks ago

    Looking good Ben Lindbergh! MLB deal!

    Like
    Reply
    • PapiElf

      3 weeks ago

      A fellow minor league free agent draft enthusiast!

      Like
      Reply
  8. George hubschman, roto imbeciles

    3 weeks ago

    It just seemed like last season on July 27, Mike Foltynewicz, making his first start of the season for the Braves, was in the game for 4 minutes and then I read the team DFAd him. Something happened between the time he was asked to leave the game until his dismissal from the team and, invariably, his whole MLB experience for 2020. In 2018 Folty had a 2.85 ERA, 202 K’s, a 1.08 WHIP, won 13 games, and made the NL all star team. I have a feeling that this whole coverup runs deeper than the Watergate tapes even. Of course, his next best seasonal ERA was 4.31. So maybe we’re just looking at an outlier and this is who Foltynewicz really is. Having said that, Texas is a nice landing spot for him.

    1 Like
    Reply
    • Rangers29

      3 weeks ago

      Tinfoil hat engaged.

      Like
      Reply
    • baseballfanforever

      3 weeks ago

      1 in 7 seasons that were good ? I’d say there’s something wrong with him. The Braves were way too patient with him and it’s bizarre.

      Like
      Reply
    • Steve Nebraska

      3 weeks ago

      Far easier to say this guy didn’t take his training seriously during lockdown lost a bunch of weight and wouldn’t cooperate with the team to get ready to play. Maybe he has put the weight back on and is ready to go. Or maybe you are right and he is apart of Qanon or something.

      3 Like
      Reply
    • goalieguy41

      3 weeks ago

      Is this Rusty Shackelford?

      Like
      Reply
    • SoCalBrave

      3 weeks ago

      His problems are well documented. He lost a lot of weight in the off season and wasn’t willing to accept responsibility. He blamed a faulty radar gun and then the rain for his velocity drop.
      He needed, and hopefully got, mental help.
      The guy is a conservative conspiracy believing Trumpist, not sure if he’s q level crazy.
      I still wish him the best, hope he can turn it around in Texas.

      Like
      Reply
  9. 8ManLineupNoPitcherNoDH

    3 weeks ago

    Rangers a joke

    Like
    Reply
    • madmanTX

      3 weeks ago

      That’s your whole life, nutsac

      4 Like
      Reply
  10. bobtillman

    3 weeks ago

    The paradigm for “Sign and Flip (at the deadline)”.
    Why not? The pedigree is there. Might work.

    And ya, teams like the O’s, Tigers, etc. should be doing this. Now ultimately is Folty’s choice, but I’m sure they can offer some enticements.

    Altho I think he gets less than Bauer……

    Like
    Reply
    • RnR Pfeifer

      3 weeks ago

      Al Avila is a great baseball man and has my utmost respect.

      Like
      Reply
  11. WereAllJustGuestsHere

    3 weeks ago

    Perfect landing spot for Folty. Time to figure things out.

    Like
    Reply
  12. dray16

    3 weeks ago

    was hoping he’d end up with the Cubs

    Like
    Reply
    • Cubsforever22

      3 weeks ago

      Yea I don’t know if I was “hoping” for him, probably not the right word but I thought he was an interesting cheap bounce back candidate. Now I do hope we can sign Jack back at this point, really don’t like the idea of a shark reunion.

      Like
      Reply
  13. Cohn Joppolella

    3 weeks ago

    Kinda surprised it’s a major league deal.

    1 Like
    Reply
  14. bravesfan

    3 weeks ago

    Soooo absolutely perfect spot for him to land. Rebuild, he’s a vet that needs some time to regain what he lost (mentally and physically). At this moment there are no financials, so I won’t assume it’s more than a couple mil. So prob a reasonable contract… but honestly a major league deal just seems kinda dumb… unless it’s league min, he’s still high risk and per reports still has many of the same velo issues he showed last year.

    Clearly I’ve watch him for years. But the kid completely lost it last year. Something is completely off. He looked thinner, like he was taking illegal junk. His game was always power junk. He doesn’t command the zone well enough to lose velo, so I don’t know why anyone would give him a major league deal unless it was at roughly league min to 1 mil. Sounds outrageous… but true

    Like
    Reply
    • bravesfan88

      3 weeks ago

      Yeah, he came in last year looking like a shell of nb his former self. I heard rumblings that he went to a new vegan diet, and went overboard with it. However, I also heard some reports that he was severely depressed, and was having a hard time dealing with his depression and anxiety issues in a healthy manner…

      Who knows what the truth is, but if he cam regain his fastball velo, he could definitely be a solid bounceback candidate. Right now though, his velo is still down about 3-4MPH, and I cannot see him having any success at that rate..

      Like
      Reply
      • bobtillman

        3 weeks ago

        Probably needs to drink a few ounces of bleach and shine an ultra-violet light up his bottom.

        2 Like
        Reply
        • bravesfan

          3 weeks ago

          Sounds like the perfect recipe for success

          Like
          Reply
  15. violentdreams11

    3 weeks ago

    probably bounce back with them Lynn had a great time with the rangers good signing

    1 Like
    Reply
    • DarkSide830

      3 weeks ago

      Lynn was substantially more established prior to his TEX tenure.

      Like
      Reply
      • violentdreams11

        3 weeks ago

        I was just stating that he was awesome with Tex he wasn’t nearly as good with the yanks

        2 Like
        Reply
  16. Rangers29

    3 weeks ago

    I would still love Walker, but tbh this means that the rotation work is done. We have enough options there in Cody, Gibson, Dunning, Lyles, Hearn, Allard, Arhiara, and Folty that we don’t need another starter on top of that. Next off-season though… next off-season…

    Like
    Reply
  17. uberalec

    3 weeks ago

    Rangers are heading for a top 3 pick again, and absolute race to the bottom!

    Which is what this team needs: more elite prospect talent. The #2 pick coming up should help.

    1 Like
    Reply
  18. Marty McRae

    3 weeks ago

    Bauer probably looking at this upstaging him at the top of the feed and is punching the air right now

    Like
    Reply
  19. wu tang killa beez

    3 weeks ago

    Nice buy low candidate. Flip him at the deadline worst case scenario

    Like
    Reply
    • MoRivera 1999

      3 weeks ago

      I think crashing and burning would be the worst case scenario. Flipping him at the deadline would be one of the better case scenarios.

      1 Like
      Reply
  20. Rsox

    3 weeks ago

    Good pickup for the Rangers. Change of scenery could do him good

    Like
    Reply
  21. sfgiants49ers

    3 weeks ago

    He will do well in Texas. Rangers get a steal here. The guy can pitch. No pressure in Texas, as its in the move with a whole new team.

    Like
    Reply
  22. Mazinger31

    3 weeks ago

    Rangers aren’t expected to compete this year and they’ve had some successful reclamation projects in the past couple seasons. If the signing doesn’t work, it’s not like it’s going to hurt the team in the long-term. If the signing does work, they can flip him for some prospects at the trade deadline. Seems like a solid gamble for the Rangers.

    Like
    Reply
  23. mlb1225

    3 weeks ago

    Worst case scenario is that he struggles on a poor team and gets released. Best case scenario is that he bounces back to some degree and is able to be traded for something at the deadline. Either way, the Rangers aren’t really losing.

    1 Like
    Reply
  24. PutPeteRoseInTheHall

    3 weeks ago

    The Rangers might be World Series bound!

    Like
    Reply
  25. Dumpster Divin Theo

    3 weeks ago

    I’d like to buy a vowel

    Like
    Reply
  26. BravesAbsentGagReflex

    3 weeks ago

    Rangers didn’t learn that signing garbage from ATL rotation was a mistake?

    Guess they didn’t get the memo with Allard and Teheran.

    Like
    Reply
  27. Guyerbassist

    3 weeks ago

    Soooo my question is, if he gets 2mil, then why not spend an extra mil and try for somone like king Felix or Chris archer (im sorry if I got their contracts wrong but I believe the Felix deal was 3mil)

    It would be the same theory but a higher upside, and would get people to maybe want to watch this team amd/or go to games if they open the stadium at all this year

    Like
    Reply
  28. Yank4Life

    2 weeks ago

    The Rangers going all in on dumpster diving in Texas.

    Like
    Reply
  29. DCartrow

    2 weeks ago

    Is that Arlington, Texas or the cemetary!!
    This guy’s a stiff!!

    Like
    Reply
  30. driftcat28

    2 weeks ago

    Good pick up/bounce back candidate

    Like
    Reply
  31. cubfanforever

    2 weeks ago

    I thought the Cubs should have moved on him.
    He’s still a young guy. His salary even with the incentives would have been a low cost investment. Yes, even for the Cubs.

    Like
    Reply
  32. cubfanforever

    2 weeks ago

    Now that Folty is off the board, go get Paxton.

    Like
    Reply

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