The Rangers announced that right-handed pitcher Joe Barlow has been activated from the 15-day injured list. To make room for Barlow on the active roster, righty Garrett Richards was designated for assignment. Additionally, outfielder Kole Calhoun has been sent on a rehab assignment.
Richards, 34, has largely been a starting pitcher for years, working exclusively out of the rotation from 2014 to 2019. He transitioned into more relief work over the past couple of seasons, showing some promise in that department last year. With the Red Sox last year, he had a 5.22 ERA as a starter but a 3.42 mark as a reliever.
Based on that showing, the Rangers grabbed Richards this offseason, hoping that a permanent bullpen role would unlock a new gear for him. He and the club agreed to a one-year deal with a $5.5MM guarantee, which came in the form of a $4.5MM salary and $1MM buyout on a $9MM club option for 2023.
Unfortunately, the bullpen breakout hasn’t emerged as hoped. Richards has thrown 42 2/3 innings over 32 appearances this season with a 5.27 ERA and a subpar 19.5% strikeout rate. Based on those poor results, the Rangers have decided to cut bait and remove Richards from the roster. With the trade deadline now passed, their only options will be to put Richards on waivers, either the outright variety or the release kind. There’s little distinction between the two in this case, as Richards has more than five years service time, meaning he could reject an outright assignment and elect free agency without forfeiting any salary.
There’s still about $1.18MM left to be paid out of that salary, along with the $1MM buyout on the 2023 option. It seems likely that he will go unclaimed on waivers and become a free agent, with the Rangers on the hook for paying out the remainder of that money. Once he is a free agent, however, interested teams could find some reasons for optimism in his work this year. His 7% walk rate is a couple ticks below the 9.1% league average for relievers this season. His 57.3% strand rate is unusually low and should be due for some positive regression. His 52.6% ground ball rate is also quite strong, much better than the league average rate of 43.3%. Perhaps a move to a better defensive team would be a better fit for his low-strikeout approach, as the Rangers rank 21st in the league with -1 Defensive Runs Saved, 18th with a -0.4 Ultimate Zone Rating and 23rd in Outs Above Average with a -12.
As for Barlow, he showed enough promise this year to get some work as the closer in Texas, racking up 13 saves. He landed on the injured list in the middle of July due to a blister, only now returning after over a month. Through 30 1/3 innings on the year, he has a 3.26 ERA with a quality 6.6% walk rate, though subpar strikeout and ground ball rates of 19% and 35.6%, respectively.
And the purge starts ⚾️
Long overdue. Culberson, Miller and K-Calhoun need to go next.
Culberson, Miller and Calhoun. I think they represented my ex-wife. Grrrr!!!
The Kole Calhoun signing looked bad from the jump
1 year deal for $5M for a veteran was fine. Signing Miller to a 2 year deal was confusing.
Rangers axing er’body
Finally! Waste of a roster spot the last 2 months
I was hoping Richards would have some success in Texas as he seemed to turn things around in the Sox ‘pen last season but it didn’t end up that way
angels bring him back
When is Semien going?
He is going to bat lead off again.
Figures…
Semian will be just fine
2027 or so
All we can hope for is trade in off-season. But he’s likely here 6 more years
He’ll probably be the best player on the team in 2022, and 2027. You’re still going to be annoying then, aren’t you?
All I’ve heard all season he’ll come around, he’ll come around. But we’re 2/3 way through the season. Best player is a bold prediction for a guy that can’t hit .250 or get his ops up to league avg. And he’s not getting any younger. That contract is and will always be stupid.
He’s not better than Seager
Right now, he’s not even as good as Lowe or garcia
The very reason why contracts should be performance based!
He has decent numbers. However, in looking at his career games played, he is a China Doll! If he could stay healthy, he would be a good ML player. No availability = not valuable
Garrett Richards has only had one balk in twelve seasons. Don’t act like you knew that
In fairness, the homers he gave up cleared the bases.
BALK , BALK, BALK! I only care about Balking if You are the San Diego Chicken. and you have to shut up in your role!
As a former pitcher, it’s really startling hearing that, with an umpire staggering out from behind home plate wagging a finger at you. Count me somewhat triggered.
Sounds like ownership spent all that money to set up the GM and manager to fail. So they could show them the door.
Lmao why on earth would they do that.
It’s their team. They don’t have to create reasons to fire people.
Too bad for Richards. I like him. He could never stay consistent. I hope he lands somewhere and turns things around.
Rangers are cleaning house. I like it. I wish Moreno would do the same, then fire himself.
Cut your losses now that it isn’t your head on the table. I blame no one and support this
Angel fans live too much in the past.
Can you blame us? ha ha
So do the rangers. All I’ve heard is bring wash back. Make Michael Young manager. Hire preller when SD fires him
I will say that if Barlow doesn’t have the endurance to start 30 and go 180, he has no business in the bullpen. Who thought his 90 mph cutter (his only pitch) made for a late inning reliever. He’s not Rivera. If I needed a K there’s 7 rangers on the roster and 25 in the organization I’d go to first.
What?
Is something i said incorrect? If he can’t start, he used to a while ago, he certainly doesn’t have blow your doors off stuff for an inning or two. Running him out there as closer was silly. Oh he got lucky this week, and the week after. Guy is lucky to have a 2 whip. And that doesn’t close anything besides an 8 run loss you’ve conceded.
I’m a little confused myself.
Joe Barlow throws a 4 Seam 95-97mph and a 12-6 curve. His whip is also only 1.022.
Getting rid of all the former Angels, I see.
I’d sign Richards to a minors deal if I was Perry. Give Trout his best friend back for Spring Training. Maybe find a bullpen arm.
Might work, if veteran minimum with split minor/ML deal. If he does not make team, he does not get paid!
I mean the rangers dreamed on his former halo stuff. It does not exist. Sorry. Here’s 12 million.
Just like the Angels dreamed on Thor’s former Met stuff?
Wonky rangers sending down of other their “big free agent signings”
The restructuring of the roster has begun, immediately after the restructuring of management. As a Rangers fan, I like it. Time to get the youngsters in Arlington.
When do I get to read about the Charlie Culberson DFA?
I figure he’ll be gone within 2 weeks
Garrett Richard’s was part of the party posse who has regressed when the umps started passionately wiping palms.
Richards has made like over $30M across 3 deals since leaving LAA and really hasn’t done much at all during those four years.
It’ll be interesting to see what his market is like this offseason. Teams keep buying in on the potential and getting burnt.
Does he still have the higher spin rates across his pitches?
I’m a big fan of Kole Calhoun’s RF defense and energy. He’s a bottom of the order hitter, not a star. No one should’ve expected different.
Yet we still expected someone who wouldn’t be well below replacement level as we approach the season’s final month. He’s only a bottom of the order hitter on a bad team with no other options.
I’m sure the White Sox will snap him up, waiver pickups are good according to the White Sox