According to The Athletic’s report on Tuesday, the Texas Rangers have successfully negotiated a deal with free agent reliever Kirby Yates. However, the one-year agreement is contingent on the results of a physical for the 36-year-old right-hander.
During the previous season with the Atlanta Braves, Yates delivered a notable performance, recording a 7-2 record with five saves and a 3.28 ERA across 61 relief appearances. Despite these achievements, it is worth noting that Yates faced challenges in the preceding years. He sat out the entire 2021 season due to injury and only pitched seven innings in 2022 following Tommy John surgery.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/71700635/usa_today_18988492.0.jpg)
Yates rose to prominence as a National League All-Star in 2019 while playing for the San Diego Padres, leading the majors with an impressive 41 saves. Over his career, spanning 361 games with no starts, he has accumulated a record of 19-19, secured 62 saves, and maintained a 3.53 ERA. His journey in the MLB has taken him through the Tampa Bay Rays (2014-15), New York Yankees (2016), Los Angeles Angels (2017), Padres (2017-20), and most recently, the Braves (2022-23).
The signing of Kirby Yates by the Texas Rangers appears to be a strategic move to bolster their bullpen, adding a seasoned reliever with a proven track record when healthy. However, the success of this transaction awaits the completion of the physical examination for Yates.
Leave a Reply