The Rangers have brought back Ian Kennedy on a minor league contract, the club informed reporters (including Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News). He’ll join their top farm team in Round Rock tomorrow.
Kennedy spent a month on the open market after being designated for assignment by Texas in early May. He’d cracked the Opening Day roster after an offseason minor league deal, marking his second stint in Arlington. While Kennedy was an excellent high-leverage arm for the Rangers back in 2021, he had less inspiring results this time around. Despite a quality 13:3 strikeout-to-walk tally through ten innings, he surrendered ten runs on 11 hits.
The 17-year MLB veteran has had a couple strong seasons since moving to the bullpen four years back. He has struggled going back to the start of the 2022 campaign, posting a 5.36 ERA through 50 1/3 frames for the Diamondbacks last season. Aside from injury rehab stints, Kennedy hasn’t pitched in Triple-A since 2009.
He’ll look to make his stay in Round Rock brief by recapturing a spot in the Texas bullpen. Rangers relievers rank 22nd in MLB with a 4.31 ERA on the year, though they’ve posted a serviceable 3.92 mark within the past month.
Yes!!!
Texas can use a veteran that is cheap for the 2nd half push. I still think Houston will overtake them for the division by the end of the year. The Angels have the talent to challenge but, they seem to always get hit by injuries. Seattle IMO doesn’t have enough this year they will fall back.
Chris Young better sell his farm for long term BP help to keep the Rangers in the playoffs. If they went for Barlow, Bieber, Cease, Diaz, etc, they have a shot. It just may not be worth it to go all in, but they need to trade some guys. Also, what do you think for the upcoming draft? I hope their arrogance doesn’t screw them over again after trying to go underslot. It’s Crews, then Langford, then Jenkins or Clark, and finally Skenes in terms of guys I wish they would draft. Getting Crews/Langford would make Harris/Zavala and maybe even Carter expendable for the right price (Diaz/Bednar or better). I just hope the Reds come back down to planet earth in time to deal Diaz.
Bypass Dealey Plaza, Mr. Kennedy.
Speaking of the Rangers, can anybody define that stupid blocking the plate rule? That overturned call on review in the 8th inning tonight was ridiculous.
nobody can. not after that.
Could be a modified version of the rule since Oneil Cruz stupid slide against the White Sox a few months ago. Maybe the umpires got together about that and now they’re expanding the catcher further out. Since expanding the bases, why not leave an expressway size way to home plate for the base runner lol
The catcher was behind the plate and used a sweep tag. The entire plate was available for Andrus. Someone in the replay office must owe the White Sox a call. MLB should reverse and play the game over that point.
Overturned because it wasn’t a catch. Dez. I mean Jonah didn’t have the ball. That’s all replay can say.
After that call, any runner who slides at the plate should be called safe. What more could Heim have done? He was behind the plate and used a sweep tag. The entire plate was available for Andrus. It’s a travesty!
Desperate times call for desperate measures. This bullpen needs HELP.
Evan Carter could fix thier BP, easy.