The Texas Rangers announced the signing of Kohei Arihara today, inking the right-hander to a two-year, $6.2MM contract after paying a $1.24MM posting fee to Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters. In a corresponding move, the Rangers have designated right-hander Art Warren for assignment, notes Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News (via Twitter).
Warren, 27, was claimed off waivers from the Mariners just after the 2020 season. He didn’t appear for the Mariners this season after making six scoreless appearances in 2019. Prior to making his Major League debut that season, Warren posted a sterling 1.71 ERA across 29 appearances totaling 31 2/3 innings in Double-A. He recorded 15 saves while finishing 22 games and showing swing-and-miss potential with 11.7 K/9.
While Warren will be 28 years old for the 2021 season, a 95 mph fastball and wipe-out slider provide Warren with enough firepower to make a front office curious. The Ohio native has done enough since being drafted in the 23rd round out of Ashland University to get a look somewhere next season. If he’s not claimed, the Rangers would likely gladly keep him in the organization.
Claim him Reds!
While he may be currently unemployed from baseball, that name is 80 grade magnifique.
He’s a better fit as a Pittsburgh Pirate
Come back to Seattle. Come on M’s claim him!
My prediction
Art Warren has a better 2021 and 2022 than Arihara.
Weird prediction
Who cares? Starters > relievers. I would take two years of an innings eater over a guy with a decent bullpen ceiling.
Well I would too! Assuming Arihara is an innings eater. He too could wind up in the bullpen and not be as successful as Art Warren in the bullpen over the next 2 years.
Arihara is an innings rated. Had a couple complete games last year.
Yeah but if your ERA imploded after your first 10 starts you seem to stop making starts and get moved to the bullpen.
Guys like this fascinate me. Seems he had decent stats in the minors before being called up, and then was relatively successful in his brief big league time. But now he’s been designated by two teams in a matter of months.
His peripherals suck.
He struggles with the strike zone and gives up a lot of contact. He has “meltdown” written all over him.
AAA hitters are no where near as disciplined as MLB hitters. It wouldn’t take long for MLB hitters to give him the Carlos Marmol treatment on his “wipe out” slider… you cannot throw it for a strike so I’m not going to swing.
I get the argument, but when you look at how many awful bullpen pitchers there are around the league (including on the Rangers and Mariners) I just don’t see why you wouldn’t give this guy a longer look.
That is true and I used to say the same thing about Dillon Maples…. It was simply Maples is a two pitch pitcher (fastball and slider) and he cannot throw his slider 3 times in the strike zone before throwing it 4 times out.
Side note: Not sure if you have ever seen the video of Edwin Encarnacion trying/not trying to hit Maples but it’s one of the most humors things you’ll see on the field.
This all makes me wonder why teams are ok with letting him go.
He probably puts ketchup on hot dogs.
The Red Sox must scoop up Art Warren now…
Surprised that both the Mariners and Rangers viewed their MLB pens and 40 man rosters and decided this guy was #41 or worse. Seems like he could help both on the MLB level today. I’d guess he won’t clear waivers and he’ll be claimed, although timing might help here. Perhaps a “strategic” DFA by the Rangers, hoping that most teams rosters are packed post maneuvering around the recent Rule 5 draft and they won’t want to use a 40-man spot for a reliever this time of year. Phillies? Orioles? Yankees seeking to cause confusion in box scores with a second A. Warren?
I doubt it. We are loaded with young, intriguing bullpen arms, 28 is pretty old for us right now. I think he was literally #41. I am not sure what Seattle looks like currently but I suspect it is a similar problem.
Sounds like a Seinfeld character
Orioles claim Warren. We definitely could use him in the bullpen.
not a big fan, but id swap him in for Quijada
Get him back Seattle !!!!!
@raysbaseball we need to sign this guy ASAP