The Rangers have signed left-handed reliever Craig Breslow to a minor league contract, reports Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News (Twitter link).
Breslow, a Baratta Partners client, became free to sign anywhere when the Marlins released him from their Triple-A affiliate Monday. The 35-year-old threw 23 2/3 minor league innings for the Marlins this season and struck out an impressive 11.03 batters per nine frames, but he offset that somewhat with a high walk rate (4.18) and logged an ugly ERA (6.46). His run prevention (4.50 ERA) and BB/9 (2.57) were better in 14 big league innings this year with the Marlins, though he fanned a meager 4.5 hitters per nine.
In 535 1/3 career major league innings, including 65 with the Red Sox in 2015, Breslow has compiled a 3.35 ERA, 7.04 K/9 and 3.56 BB/9. He’ll now try to work his way back to the big leagues with the Rangers, whose bullpen is among the worst in the league statistically. However, Texas’ current left-handed options – Jake Diekman and Alex Claudio (depth chart) – have fared well this year.
