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Texas Rangers add bullpen depth by signing Zach McAllister

By Travis Koch

CLEVELAND, OH - APRIL 12: Zach McAllister #34 of the Cleveland Indians pitches against the Chicago White Sox in the ninth inning at Progressive Field on April 12, 2017 in Cleveland, Ohio. The White Sox defeated the Indians 2-1. (Photo by David Maxwell/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH - APRIL 12: Zach McAllister #34 of the Cleveland Indians pitches against the Chicago White Sox in the ninth inning at Progressive Field on April 12, 2017 in Cleveland, Ohio. The White Sox defeated the Indians 2-1. (Photo by David Maxwell/Getty Images) /
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Reliever Zach McAllister has signed a one-year contract with the Texas Rangers. He will compete for a spot in the bullpen come spring training.

The Texas Rangers have finally made a bullpen move. They signed free agent reliever Zach McAllister to a one-year, $1 million contract this afternoon. McAllister turned 31 years old last month. He will be entering his 9th big league season.

The right-hander had been a career Cleveland Indian prior to his release last August. He was then picked up by the Detroit Tigers, who he made three appearances for and contributed an ugly 21.60 ERA.

2018 was a disappointing year for him. It could probably be described as unexpectedly disappointing given his numbers from the previous three years.

Texas Rangers
TORONTO, ON – OCTOBER 17: Zach McAllister #34 of the Cleveland Indians throws a pitch against the Toronto Blue Jays during game three of the American League Championship Series at Rogers Centre on October 17, 2016 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /

In 2017 with the Indians, McAllister posted a 2.61 ERA over 62 innings. He generated 9.6 strikeouts per nine innings and ended with a very impressive 175 ERA+. It was his finest work to date.

2015 and 2016 were great seasons as well. He finished with a 3.00 ERA over 69 innings in ’15 and a 3.44 ERA over 52.1 innings in ’16. The switch from starting pitcher to reliever at the end of the 2014 season seemed to have opened him up to great success.

Hopefully last season was just a fluke for Zach McAllister. The Texas Rangers sure are hoping so. He will be a major weapon in an uncertain bullpen if he can return to his 2017 form.

The Rangers will analyze his game throughout the spring and determine where exactly he slots into the ‘pen, if anywhere. Texas has a couple of guys capable of tossing multiple innings in relief per outing, specifically Jesse Chavez and Jeffrey Springs. Despite McAllister formerly starting, he was used in short relief most often while with Cleveland.

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Regardless, he adds a body to the relief mix, something the Rangers needed and probably still need more of. With McAllister jumping aboard, the 40-man roster has been filled. And now that the Asdrubal Cabrera signing is official, Texas has its first roster quandary of the young year. Things are taking shape; we’re just weeks away from spring training!

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