The Rangers announced tonight that they’ll select the contract of right-hander Austin Bibens-Dirkx from Triple-A Round Rock, and he’ll start Thursday’s game against the Royals. Texas has an open spot on the 40-man roster, so they’ll only need to make a 25-man move to accommodate the promotion of Bibens-Dirkx.
The 33-year-old Bibens-Dirkx made his big league debut last season after a 12-year minor league odyssey that began as a 16th-round pick of the Mariners back in 2006. He appeared in 24 games with Texas last year and totaled 69 1/3 innings of 4.67 ERA ball, averaging 4.9 K/9, 2.6 BB/9 and 1.82 HR/9 with a 39.9 percent ground-ball rate.
Though only six of those 24 appearances were starts, Bibens-Dirkx has worked primarily out of the rotation since joining the Rangers organization prior to the 2017 season. That’s been his role with Round Rock this year, too, where he’s made eight starts with a 3.72 ERA and a 32-to-8 K/BB ratio in 38 2/3 innings.
[Related: Texas Rangers depth chart]
Bibens-Dirkx will step into a rotation spot that has been vacated due to injuries incurred by both Matt Moore and Martin Perez. It’s not clear whether he’ll simply be making a one-off spot start or if he’ll get multiple opportunities while Perez and Moore work their way back, though both of those injured lefties have struggled substantially in 2018. Cole Hamels, Doug Fister, Mike Minor and Bartolo Colon round out manager Jeff Banister’s rotation at present, though that group’s composition figures to change in the coming months as the Rangers begin to field trade interest on their short-term veteran assets.
Still waiting for them to realize that Minor was better out of the pen last year, and should have stayed there, instead of moving him back to the rotation.
Ikr
My cat is named Bibens-Dirkx. Doesn’t have too much to do with the article. Just thought I would share that.
Nice
I was confused by the photo because it makes him look like he’s over 60
He just pitches like that…..
Must have been a hard 33 years.
Never give up ABD!
I rather have ABD in my rotation then fister and Moore.
I don’t think you’re going to have to worry about Fister for too much longer. I expect him to be traded by the deadline.
4.22 ERA innings eaters could be rather valuable to a contender. Especially based on his inexpensive control through next season via club option.
Jaime Garcia had a 4.30 ERA at the time he was traded to the Twins on a $12 million salary. Overall, he got back Huascar Ynoa in one deal and Zack Littell and DIetrich Enns in a separate deal.
Based on the salary difference, I would imagine the Rangers could probably get a return similar or slightly better than that. Furthermore, the market for cheap starters is pretty crowded with buyers: Yankees, Indians, Mariners, Braves, Brewers, Cardinals, Diamondbacks and Cardinals could all use upgrades at the back of their rotations.
Looking at the sellers and chips:
Top Tier Bartolo Colon, Francisco Liriano, Tyson Ross
Fister probably checks in on tier two just ahead of Jordan Lyles and Clayton Richard
Cole Hamels, James Shields, Hector Santiago, Jaime Garcia, Chris Tillman, Derek Holland are also options, but certainly considerably less desirable.
Here, I see Hamels getting traded assuming the Rangers eat some $, Holland (if the Giants fall out) based on low salary and relative efficiency and maybe Santiago in August.
The Cardinals don’t need pitching ! They could use another big bat or infield help though!
What about Timmy boy? Wonder if we will ever see him this year? Or was it all a P.R. Stunt?
Buried in the story is that Colon is trade bait.
James Shields? Seriously?
I would bet a $1 M dollars he’s heritage is Australian with a name like that. It totally looks Australian.