The Rangers have agreed to a minor league contract with veteran reliever Nick Vincent, reports MLB.com’s Jon Morosi (Twitter link). The right-hander will be invited to Major League camp in Spring Training. He’s represented by PSI Sports Management.
In Vincent, Texas is adding a nine-year Major League veteran who has a durable, effective track record. The 34-year-old spent the 2020 season with the Marlins, pitching to a 4.43 ERA and 4.52 SIERA in 22 1/3 innings, although nearly all of the damage done against Vincent came in his final two outings. He carried a 2.18 ERA into the final week of the season before serving up a combined six runs in two appearances at Atlanta’s Truist Park and Yankee Stadium.
As a soft-tossing righty in his mid-30s, it’s not a huge surprise that Vincent had to settle for a non-guaranteed pact, but based on his track record and the current state of the Rangers’ bullpen, he ought to have a good chance at making the club. The right-hander hasn’t been on the IL with an elbow or shoulder issue since 2014 — he did miss time in 2019 due to a pectoral strain — and has long been a steady source of quality innings. From 2013-19, Vincent punched out just under a quarter of the hitters he faced while walking batters at just a six percent clip (4.5 percent, if you throw out the intentional free passes).
On the whole, the former 18th-round pick has logged 399 innings at the Major League level, and he has a strong 3.38 ERA that is backed up by a near-identical 3.40 SIERA. Vincent’s strikeout rate dipped to 18.5 percent last year, and his hard-contact rate spiked to career-worst levels. Still, his walk rate remained strong and his track record is one that’s plenty worth a low-risk flier of this nature.
The Vincent van goes to the bullpen.
That’s former mariner Nick Vincent!
That’s former Padres local guy out of Ramona High
No, THIS IS PATRICK!
ok. This guy went to the same HS as me. One of the few Ramona HIgh alums to make it to pro ball.
He was really solid in his time here
as a Giants fan I really remember Nick Vincent being a guy.
Major League Pen is full and minor league pen is full. Add Folty or Walker to SP staff and Duvall as extra OF and Lamb as a 1B 3B insurance.If we add another MLB BP arm sign Mcgee.
Duvall maybe. I feel like a contender will go after Mcgee for a solid arm. I go Folty because he may have more upside and you could flip him.
Folty would be the best low-cost option. If he pitches well could either be part of Rangers Future or bring in some prospects at the deadline. Duvall should also be reasonably cheap and he could back up in RF or LF at 1b or DH. He should also represent a decent trade chip at the deadline. I am thinking Folty as I said at 1/4 with incentives and Duvall at 1/4 or 5 million.
Looking at the Rangers situation & the remaining free agent pitchers I’m pretty sure anyone they sign they’d be open to moving this summer.
If Nick Vincent is in your bullpen, you’re probably doing OK. If Nick Vincent is pitching in important situations out of your bullpen, you’ve probably got problems.
Hopefully we can pick up Walker, but besides that, our off-season is done unless we go get a cheap little bench bat or another dozen relievers. Vincent will probably make the team out of ST anyways.
I would take Walker or Folty, but I like Folty a little better because he could start or relieve. We need an RH OF/1B bat for the bench and White nor Garcia is it; so, I think if the price is,<5 million Duvall makes sense as he can play three positions or DH if Calhoun tanks. He would be an easy piece to flip at the deadline. If Guzman doesn't beat out Lowe and Rangers keep Calhoun and Andrus there is no place for Guzman and he has no options left so he would be traded or released.
If it looks like Guzman won't beat out Lowe before the season starts, TX should talk to COL or PITT for trade as neither currently have 1B filled by anyone with Guzman's ability defensively. In Col, he might hit 45 HR a year.
I’d rather have Walker because he’s the better pitcher, and his price is very cheap compared to his production. 8 mil a year for his producting? Yes please. Nobody even knows what Folty is going to look like in a real game. We have a pretty good idea with Walker.
As for backup OF’ers, I’m not sure if the Rangers would consider spending on Duvall even if the price was right. I just think that even though White or Garcia aren’t good; we aren’t good. They can play the OF and hit just a little bit… for cheap. That’s all we need. No need to spend there unless we bring back somebody like Santana who’s a super-utility guy.
Who has had the worse off-season, Rangers or Cleveland? My two teams are gonna suck this year. Cleveland has a shot because of their young pitching, but the Rangers are hot garbage. Trying to think of a good underdog store to follow next year.
We could have matched that offer for Chris archer. At least bring somone in to put butts in the seats