Veteran reliever Ryan Tepera has exercised an opt-out clause in his minor league contract with the Rangers and is expected to become a free agent, MLBTR has learned. He’d signed there on a minor league pact in mid-June after being released by the Angels.
Signed by the Halos to a two-year, $14MM contract in the 2021-22 offseason, the now-35-year-old Tepera had a solid first year in Anaheim, pitching to a 3.61 ERA with 17 holds, six saves, a 20.3% strikeout rate and 8.6% walk rate in 57 1/3 innings. Things went off the rails in year two of the contract, as he was hit hard in 8 2/3 innings before being designated for assignment and released. Tepera yielded seven earned runs on 15 hits and three walks with 10 strikeouts during those 10 2/3 innings, and his average fastball had dipped to a career-low 91.8 mph.
It’s been the opposite with the Rangers’ Triple-A affiliate in Round Rock, however. The veteran righty has rattled off eight scoreless innings, punching out a whopping 37.9% of his opponents against a 10.3% walk rate. He’s picked some of that velocity back up, with his heater now back up to 93 mph — the same level at which it sat from 2020-22, when Tepera tossed 139 1/3 innings of 3.29 ERA ball between the Cubs, White Sox and Halos.
It’s at least mildly surprising that the Rangers apparently don’t feel they have a big league spot for Tepera, given that performance and his broader track record. In parts of nine big league seasons, he’s tallied 363 1/3 innings of 3.59 ERA ball, regularly working in leverage roles — particularly in recent seasons. The Rangers recently acquired Aroldis Chapman to shore up the back end of their bullpen and have also brought familiar faces Ian Kennedy and Matt Bush back to the organization on minor league deals, but given this year’s struggles from expected contributors like Joe Barlow, Jonathan Hernandez, Taylor Hearn and John King, there’s still some need for relief pitching in Arlington. Of course, Texas GM Chris Young is very likely still in the market for additional relief pitching.
However things play out in Texas, it appears Tepera won’t be a part of the solution at this time. He’ll hit the market in search of another opportunity. With upwards of half the league in the market for bullpen help, a nice showing in Triple-A and a strong track record, he ought to draw interest from multiple clubs as he looks for a return to the big leagues. The Angels are on the hook for the remainder of Tepera’s $7MM salary for the current season, so any team that signs him would only owe him the prorated league minimum for any time spent on the big league roster.
10 IP, 3 hits, 0 runs, 3 walks, and 16 strikeouts and they let him walk over someone like King/Josh Smith/Yerry/Martin Perez/whoever else!?! Why???
In AAA/A he is 5-0 in 9 games, 1 start. That’s a lot of wins for only 9 games pitched.
It’s just 10 innings over the course of the last month, which isn’t many innings. So I wonder if it’s a matter of they possibly just don’t trust his arm to be available in the bullpen on back to back nights or something like that? That could be a big consideration when it comes to choosing who you want filling out the last couple bullpen roster spots.
Brad Miller
Because actual results do not matter to the Ivy League analytics guys like Chris Young. Only analytics and underlying peripherals matter.
the former MVP candidate should find somewhere to land
Come back to the White Sox. They will need some arms after they trade 2-3 arms from the pen.
Sign w/ the Astros.
Poor guy. When are MLB players going to learn not to bash the Astros. Every one who does sees an immediate and embarrassing career decline (Mike Fiers, Ryan Tepera, Trevor bauer, Mike Clevinger, etc.). I guess it’s bad karma for the hypocrisy and blaming someone else for your problems.
What a strange take. It’s ironic that this take would invoke karma when none of the Astros players were punished for their cheating. Chas McCormick also hasn’t faced anything from his Bush League antics in intentionally trying to injure Ty France.
Lol okay James. France literally didn’t believe that it was intentional. Stop trying to make things bigger than they are
Texasfurry France is going to say that because he doesn’t want to cause any problems. But you know it was bush league and he should have been suspended. But since he is an Astro he is not allowed to be punished.
Mike Friars bashed the team he once played for including no hitting the Dodgers as a member of the Astros in 2015
Cubs should pick him up
Totally agree.We need a few more good arms for the bullpen. Especially if we trade away Leiter and Merryweather.
Just what I was thinking. He regained form with them last time. It’d be a great story.
Definitely wouldn’t mind seeing him return to the South Side on the White Sox. We could definitely use him.
I didn’t know he still pitched. Thought he was still with Anaheim. He was great for the cubs in 2021. They had that “3 headed monster” Tepera, Chafin and Kimbrel. 7th, 8th and 9th. Unfortunately that team collapsed after throwing a combined no hitter vs. The Dodgers.
He should definitely come back to to the Cubs. Seems that it would be mutual.
The Red Sox should sign him to a ML deal immediately no questions asked lol. Though given the results and FB velo being back I feel like I could say that about every contending team… weird the Rangers aren’t calling him up to be honest– it’d be one thing if it was only results and no velo or vice versa but both seem like a no brainer given his background.