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David Robertson Declines Mutual Option With Rangers

By Nick Deeds | November 2, 2024 at 4:04pm CDT

Veteran right-hander David Robertson is declining his side of the mutual option he holds with the Rangers, as noted by Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News. Robertson forgoes a $7MM salary in 2025 in favor of a $1.5MM buyout and the ability to test free agency.

Robertson, 39, returns to the open market on the heels of another solid season. He served as the top set-up man for closer Kirby Yates in Texas this season, pitching to a strong 3.00 ERA with 2.65 FIP in 72 innings of work. While the veteran will pitch next year at age 40, he’s shown no signs of slowing down with a 33.4% strikeout rate this year that was his best since 2017. While his 9.1% walk rate was somewhat elevated, it’s a couple of ticks below his 2023 mark and well below the mark he posted in 2022, the campaign that helped to revive his career after three mostly lost seasons due to injuries.

That dominance likely made the decision to head to the open market a fairly easy decision for the veteran as it’s hard to imagine him not beating the $5.5MM he left on the table this winter. While he’s likely to be limited to one-year guarantees due to his age, Robertson’s long track record of success in his nearly two decades as a big leaguer, his ample closing experience, and his ability to strike batters out at elite levels should all earn him a lucrative one-year deal in free agency this winter with a club in need of bullpen help. Virtually every team in the league tends to look for bullpen upgrades over the winter, and the short-term guarantee Robertson figures to command should make him of interest to contenders and rebuilding clubs alike, as even a deadline seller could shop Robertson next summer. That’s a situation Robertson is quite familiar with, as he found himself dealt at the trade deadline in both 2022 and ’23 when the Cubs and Mets shipped him off to the Phillies and Marlins, respectively.

For the Rangers, the departure of Robertson highlights the club’s own needs in the bullpen this winter as he joined Yates and Leclerc in heading to free agency. It’s not hard to imagine the club reuniting with one or more of those players at some point this winter, but with the club expected to try and duck under the luxury tax this winter it’s also possible Chris Young’s front office will instead look for cheaper ways to augment their relief mix such as their recent move to claim Roansy Contreras off waivers from the Angels. Robertson, Leclerc, and Yates combined to make more than $20MM in 2024, after all, and clearing that money off the books while adding relievers on lower-cost deals could go a long way towards helping the Rangers avoid the rising penalties associated with spending into tax territory multiple times in a row. They’ll sure need some established help in the bullpen, however, as the club’s bullpen finished bottom-five in the majors overall this year even in spite of standout performances from Robertson and Yates.

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Texas Rangers Transactions David Robertson

Dodgers Exercise Club Option On Austin Barnes
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Dodgers To Exercise Club Option On Miguel Rojas
View Comments (41)
Post a Comment

41 Comments

  1. Patriot12992

    12 months ago

    Guy is still running like a Swiss watch, impressive career.

    26
    Reply
    • Peg2

      12 months ago

      Agreed. True professional. Longevity and pitches to a high standard

      11
      Reply
      • Pete'sView

        12 months ago

        Hope the Giants consider signing him.

        2
        Reply
    • Joe says...

      12 months ago

      Not bad for a 17th round draft pick.

      2
      Reply
    • vinc3nt3

      12 months ago

      Dave lives in Barrington RI. A 45 minute drive to Fenway. Why aren’t the Sox trying to sign him.

      Reply
  2. PITA

    12 months ago

    Royals need this guy.!

    Reply
  3. User 2770661946

    12 months ago

    His wife bought him a riding mower one year and tried to wrap it but he figured it out with just one look. One of the best stories I’ve ever read

    3
    Reply
    • Patriot12992

      12 months ago

      Not your best Terry take a lap and come back on the next article bringin the heat.

      6
      Reply
      • Bucket Number Six

        12 months ago

        Terry doesn’t have a best. He’s clearly LCD.

        Reply
  4. jhonny

    12 months ago

    He is still in very good physical shape, especially for his age. I was impressed watching him this year as a Ranger fan. No surprise he declined the option.

    4
    Reply
  5. Champ world champion Texas Rangers

    12 months ago

    Yes he’s 40 later

    Reply
  6. The biggest tr0ll

    12 months ago

    I bet Yankees resign him. They can’t get enough pitching in that bullpen. Plus, it’s a reunion.

    1
    Reply
    • mlbnyyfan

      12 months ago

      Come back Houdini!!!! Yankees need you

      2
      Reply
    • Acoss1331

      12 months ago

      That’s possible, especially since he’s been a Yankee before with success with them.

      Reply
    • Patriot12992

      12 months ago

      Mariano’s successor returns!

      1
      Reply
    • Sorinotsori

      12 months ago

      I don’t think we’ll do it but I’d love for him to come back.

      Reply
  7. DarkSide830

    12 months ago

    Bring him back to Philly Dave!

    2
    Reply
    • Soto should bat first.

      12 months ago

      Bring him back to NY (Mets) David!

      2
      Reply
  8. KingZeke8

    12 months ago

    Didn’t even realize until I saw this post that Dave was still pitching, and not only that but pitching at a great level. He has quietly had a very solid career .

    2
    Reply
  9. bjhaas1977

    12 months ago

    Mets bring him back.

    1
    Reply
    • imissjoebuzas

      12 months ago

      …….As the set-up man for Diaz, the job he was originally signed by the Mets to do.

      Reply
  10. Doron

    12 months ago

    A Yankees plan B for no Soto could very well be assembling a super bullpen.
    The makings for such a bullpen is possible with this FA class.
    Tanner Scott, Kirby Yates, Carlos Esteves, Jeff Hoffman, D-Rob, Kahnle, Holmes….

    Creating a super bullpen is not the worst plan B.

    3
    Reply
    • BigV

      12 months ago

      Good idea

      1
      Reply
    • rmullig2

      12 months ago

      Pass on Kahnle and Holmes.

      Reply
    • User 4014041831

      12 months ago

      R U N Prevention is a winning concept.

      Reply
    • buffalobob88

      12 months ago

      Spend the Soto money on multiple players.

      1
      Reply
  11. Ingrid Janeiro

    12 months ago

    Have followed DRob since the Yankees won the World Series . Don’t know why they ever traded him!

    Reply
    • Bucket Number Six

      12 months ago

      You didn’t follow very closely because the Sox signed him in free agency.

      3
      Reply
    • jopeness

      12 months ago

      Cashman does not resign relievers multiple times, with a few exceptions. Generally it has worked out, the strategy i presume is based on how much their used, not only wear and tear but also in high leverage situations against teams. If playoff team A has seen the RP a lot over the past 4 years, much easier t handle than fresh kids from the minors.

      Reply
  12. Dumpster Divin Theo

    12 months ago

    Maybe he’ll head home to sweet home Alabamie where they boo the governor. Boo hoo hoo! Say hi to Jennie

    Reply
  13. positively_broad_st

    12 months ago

    Robertson will get at least $7M from some team next year. The $1.5M buyout money is nice bonus for himself. Smart move on his part…

    1
    Reply
  14. Braveslifer

    12 months ago

    #BravesCountry

    Reply
    • mlbnyyfan

      12 months ago

      Definitely no more Holmes on the Yankees. He blew too many saves. You never know with home field advantage possibly a different WS outcome.

      Reply
      • buffalobob88

        12 months ago

        He won’t be back. Cashman deleted his number already

        Reply
  15. ATLbravos

    12 months ago

    bama native, he needs to find a team closer to home like the braves

    1
    Reply
  16. jvent

    12 months ago

    Come back to the Mets they need help in the bp

    Reply
  17. Jean Matrac

    12 months ago

    At some point father time will catch up. Next season will be his age 40 season. He’s had an impressive career, but the age curve usually takes a dive around this point in a player’s career. I’d be wary about counting on him to sustain what he’s been doing. He could still be productive next season, or even beyond that, but even Nolan Ryan had his age catch up.

    Reply
  18. kingbum

    12 months ago

    I think 1/10 or 2/16 is fair….I think because he’s a reliever and he lost basically 3 years due to injuries he can go to age 45 if he takes care of himself. It’s just an inning a night and it’s not every night, 15 pitches on average.

    Reply
  19. Mrbarky

    12 months ago

    12.75 strikeouts per 9 innings very impressive at any age!

    Reply
  20. Fred McGriff HR

    12 months ago

    Probably wants to finish as a Yankee, I certainly could be incorrect, but the Yankees bullpen needs bolstering.

    Reply
  21. Wheeler Dealer

    12 months ago

    Cubs should bring him back

    Reply

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