The Rangers have announced the signings of righties Austin Bibens-Dirkx and Erik Goeddel. Both players will receive minors contracts that include invitations to MLB Spring Training.
Texas has worked hard to build out its pitching depth this winter, and that’s all the more important now given that Martin Perez is slated to miss some time early on. While the Rangers will surely still hope to find more impactful additions, a little spring competition never hurts.
Bibens-Dirkx reached the majors for the first time in 2017 with the Rangers. Working as a swingman, he provided 69 1/3 innings of 4.67 ERA ball over 18 relief appearances and six starts. He also managed only 4.9 K/9 against 2.6 BB/9 and allowed 1.8 home runs per regulation outing. The 32-year-old was outrighted off of the 40-man roster at the end of the season.
As for Goeddel, who turns 29 tomorrow, he’ll step into the bullpen competition after appearing in each of the past four seasons with the Mets. The UCLA product has shown some swing and miss, recording 9.4 K/9 against 3.3 BB/9 while carrying a 3.96 ERA through 104 2/3 career MLB frames. Goeddel managed a hefty 15.2% swinging-strike rate in 2017, though he also coughed up eight long balls in just 29 frames on the year.
#welcometolastplace
1st place teams don’t make depth additions?
Nope, never. Everyone knows that the 25 guys you start the season with always stay healthy and effective so there’s absolutely no need for depth at all.
Depth signings that sign with team that are going to be in last place are still in last place. #welcometolastplace #rangersindenial
This isn’t twitter, dummy.
The article fails to mention how Goedell has had elbow issues multiple times in his career too.
Goeddel can help that bullpen. Worthwhile signing, even if he’s no more than a depth piece.
David Hernandez anybody? He pretty much shoved against the division when he was with Angels
Great stuff! Excellent paragraph structure and formatting. Thanks a bunch Jeff!
I didn’t like the per regulation game reference. What if his side only had to pitch 9 innings?
It’s a moot point, really. He only saw ONE inning of extras, and gave up 1 hit and 1 walk without allowing a run… that’s all that matters. How you get 3 outs isn’t nearly as important as getting the 3 outs.
I picked Austin Bibbens-Dirkx up from the airport in 2009 when I was an intern for the Peoria Chiefs. He was just signed from indy ball. He was 24 years old when most players in the league were between 19 and 22. I remember how determined he was to reach the majors and how much I doubted his chances. Congrats, ABD. Way to prove the doubters (and me) wrong!
When I first saw Erik, Goeddel’s name, all I could think of was Eddie Gaedel and the old Bill Veeck publicity stunt. Before my time but never forget the story and the old photo’s of Eddie at the plate.
That story in turn reminds me of how much smaller a man Bud Selig was decades later when he had Gaedel’s plate appearance erased from the official record.
Way to protect the sanctity of the record books, Selig.