The Rangers have signed Dave Bush to a minor league deal with an invite to Spring Training, tweets Anthony Andro of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. In a different tweet, ESPN's Jerry Crasnick informs us that Bush's base salary will be $1MM if he makes the club, with another $1MM in incentives. The Indians and Mets also expressed interest in the long-time Brewer.
Bush, who turned 31 last November, owns a career ERA of 4.66 that's backed up by his peripherals (4.64 FIP, 4.47 xFIP). Last season, he hurled 174 1/3 innings of 4.54 ERA ball in the Brewers' rotation, where he's spent the past five seasons. If he makes the club, Bush will return to the AL for the first time since 2005, when he pitched in Toronto (the club that originally drafted him).
While he's never had an overpowering fastball (88.4mph career average), last season saw his velocity dip to an average of 86.5. His normally strong command (2.33 BB/9 career) diminished as well, as his walk rate jumped to a career-high 3.36/9. Bush will need to re-establish his precision and improve on his career 1.3 HR/9 in order to thrive in a hitters' environment such as Texas.
oh my…
Rangers fans, the last thing you want is Dave Bush in a hitters’ ballpark. He averaged 28 HR a year in what’s considered a neutral ballpark (favors neither hitters nor pitchers), Hate to see if he could let up 40…
There’s no need to “oh my”
Bush is just an investment, it’s not like Texas is actually going to put him in their rotation.
I agree. Remember when he gave up four in a row homers to the D-backs?
I am just glad he is long gone.
he would have been a good sign for the mets
You can always use some more SP depth. Hes been an average back end starter who can give you some innings. Velocity dip is concerning, but obviously on a minor league deal hes a backup plan anyway.
I always liked Dave. He was generally a guy you could pencil in to take the ball every 5th day, with the exception of the year where he got put on the DL for half the year after being hit with a HanRam line drive on his pitching elbow.
Don’t care for this signing, though. I highly doubt that he’ll even make the team, and doubt the Rangers expect him to. He’s strictly depth, but I don’t think you really want a guy who gives up HR’s to be pitching in that park. So, he’s depth, but they hope they don’t have to use him.
Makes you wonder if Bush had any other options. He must not have if he accepted a minor league deal from a team in the AL with a hitters park. Doesn’t seem like a good match.
The Mets might have been a better destination for him. He’d have a better chance to compete for a rotation spot there or a long relief job/spot starter type role. A huge ball park like they have would have suited him well seeing his home runs allowed.
I could see that and facing the pitcher instead of the Dh would help,Citifield is a pitchers park.
Dave Bush is pitching depth….interesting what could Mike Maddux do with him? Not a huge signing but could be 5th rotation spot person until the kids are ready in May or June…
Well, looks like this might be the end of the road for Bush. He was a pretty durable starter in Milwaukee, but as the article points out, there’s good reason to believe that his arm is shot. I’m glad Cappy at least has a chance to start in NY.
His arm isn’t shot. He had 18 quality starts last year. Oh there may have been residual loss of velocity left from getting hit by a line drive in 09, but he’s just 31. More likely he found out he could get a little movement at 86 that he wasn’t getting at 88, and if it’s one thing Bush needs is some movement on his fastball. As for the ballpark issue, it’s not exactly like Miller Park is a pitcher’s park, and when hitter’s square up on Bush, it usually doesn’t matter where it is, its gone.
I doubt he makes the Rangers out of spring training, but he gives them a veteran option if needed down the road. My guess is that he may have an opt out clause too that may result in aoother team picking him up later too.
I think he signed with Texas to be reunited with Mike Maddux his former pitching coach, makes all the sense in the world to me, regardless of the park effects.
I think you are on to something here. There’s a certain familiarity here between player and coach, and I agree it’s a difficult park for Bush, I’m also sure that Maddux is well aware of what Bush is and is not capable of doing.
Besides, you can keep on writing pitchers off if you want. Foolish you. Every year there are pitchers that no one thought were ever going to break through, yet some of them do. Um, Colby Lewis anyone? R. A. Dickey anyone? Gavin Floyd a few years back? Matt Belisle? Shall I go on? Anyone with reasonable health and a mound to pitch on just might put together a good month or two, a good half season, or even a good season. If Bush does any of those, it will help the Rangers.
I have always wondered how many homeruns players could hit against Bush given the right circumstances, well given his diminished abilities and homerun friendly ballpark in Arlington we are about to find out. Terrible signing, they had to opportunity to sign Francis, Prior, and/or many others and Bush is what they have to show for offseason acquisitions? At this point why not throw the money they were going to offer Lee at Pettitte or see if Pedro wants to play in Texas?
He won’t even make the team. We already have all of these pitchers that can start:
Wilson
Lewis
Hunter
Webb
Holland
Kirkman
Harrison
Hurley
McClung
Beltre
and others…
You talk negatively about Bush and then say we could have gotten Prior, Francis, or Pedro?
As a Brewers fan, I must salute the only pitcher to record a postseason win for the team in my lifetime. I hope he gets something working with the Rangers.