Texas Rangers add starting pitcher, leaving them better positioned to chase Rendon
The Texas Rangers are in agreement on a two-year deal with right-handed pitcher Jordan Lyles, according to two MLB sources.
ESPN and The Athletic broke the news around 9:30 p.m. Friday.
The deal is worth $16 million but won’t become official until Lyles passes a physical next week.
More importantly, though, the deal could put the Rangers in a stronger position to acquire third baseman Anthony Rendon.
The Rangers have filled two spots in their starting rotation with Lyles and Kyle Gibson, another right-hander, for less than $20 million a season.
They join a rotation that includes Lance Lynn and Mike Minor, and the final spot could be decided among a number of internal candidates.
Gibson’s deal, which was announced earlier Friday, is for three years and $28 million.
In theory, the Rangers can put the majority of what available funds they have left this offseason into a multiyear deal for Rendon, who rates as the best position player on the free-agent market.
They met last weekend with the Houston native, who is represented by Scott Boras, and Daniels said Friday that the Rangers are likely to add a third baseman from outside the organization.
Josh Donaldson is the other noteworthy free agent at the position, and Miguel Andujar could be made available via a trade with the New York Yankees.
The third-base market takes a considerable dip after Rendon, Donaldson and Andujar.
Several other starting pitchers remain unsigned, including ace right-handers Gerrit Cole and Stephen Strasburg. The Rangers would considering adding another starter, but don’t feel an urgency to do so with the addition of Lyles.
Lyles career ERA is an eyesore, at 5.11, but he has posted a 4.13 ERA the past two seasons in 228 2/3 innings. He was a full-time starter in 2019, saving his best work after being sent from the Pittsburgh Pirates to the Milwaukee Brewers at the trade deadline.
He went 7-1 with a 2.45 ERA and a .202 opponents batting average in 11 starts. He was a full-time starter in 2019 for the first time since 2015, and posted a 4.15 ERA overall.
Lyles’ success is built on a four-seam fastball and a curveball. His strikeout percentage has risen the past three seasons.
The Rangers feel like they are catching the 29-year-old, who made his MLB debut in 2011 with the Houston Astros, on an upward trend.
This story was originally published December 6, 2019 at 10:58 PM.
