Texas Rangers complete deal with Kyle Gibson. The rotation, though, still needs help
Kyle Gibson’s three-year, $28 million deal to join the Texas Rangers’ rotation became official Friday morning, more than a week after the initial agreement and three days after he came to town for a physical exam.
He joins a rotation that features fellow right-hander Lance Lynn and left-hander Mike Minor, who finished fifth and eighth in American League Cy Young voting last month. Gibson has proven to be durable, and the Rangers have seen better stuff from him the past two seasons with the Minnesota Twins.
Gibson will make $11 million in 2020, $10 million in 2021, $7 million in 2022, and can earn an additional $3 million through incentives.
Gibson will earn $11 million in 2020, $10 million in 2021 and $7 million in 2022, and has the chance at another $3 million in incentives. He expects to be ready by Opening Day after spending the off-season learning to manage ulcerative colitis.
The Rangers made the commitment based on what Gibson did since the summer of 2017, when he smoothed out a new delivery and found some sense of consistency for the first time in his career.
“He’s always been a really good starter,” general manager Jon Daniels said. “I think about over two years ago, you look back and it looks like he took his game to another level and really continued at that level for two calendar years.”
Gibson wore down late last season after dealing with a bout of e coli that also helped trigger ulcerative colitis, the same disease that affected former Rangers reliever Jake Diekman.
Gibson said that one of the reasons he selected the Rangers is because of their experience working with players who have ulcerative colitis. His goal is to have his medicine balanced and possibly have the disease in remission by Opening Day.
He also heard from Diekman last summer.
“His case, just like every case, is just a little bit different,” Gibson said. “Here in the next couple weeks the doctor expect me to be 100 percent with my stomach health. I’m definitely trending that way. The goal is to try to keep me symptom-free for a year and then be able to tone down that medicine so that I can work off of it and not have to live on it.”
The Rangers have two more openings in their rotation, and are expected to acquire at least one more starter. They missed out on righty Zack Wheeler, who signed a five-year $118 million free-agent deal Wednesday with the Philadelphia Phillies.
Gerrit Cole remains the top free-agent pitcher on the market, though he seems to be drawn to his native southern California and might be too costly even though the Rangers are willing to spend this off-season. An ESPN report said that Yankees ownership has approved offering Cole a record-breaking contract.
The Rangers are under the impression that Stephen Strasburg, another ace right-hander, will re-sign with the Washington Nationals.
A source said that the Rangers are not looking seriously at any left-handed starters and could look to a trade for their next starter. Three young left-handers — Kolby Allard, Joe Palumbo and Brock Burke — are among the candidates for the final spot in the rotation if the Rangers don’t fill it externally.
A trade might prove to be the best avenue for adding a starter. The ideal acquisition will be right-handed.
“Are we looking to add more? The answer is yes,” Daniels said. “We’d like to add. I think if all is equal, we’d probably lean right than left given our division. We want the best fit possible.”
This story was originally published December 6, 2019 at 11:17 AM.
