In another departure from the Texas Rangers bullpen, right-hander Chris Stratton has inked a lucrative two-year contract worth $8 million with the Kansas City Royals, as reported by MLB.com. Mark Feinsand reveals that Stratton is set to earn $3.5 million in the upcoming season, with a player option for $4.5 million in 2025.
This move marks the second instance of a Rangers reliever joining the Royals, following the recent signing of Will Smith, the team’s 2023 saves leader, who secured a one-year deal with Kansas City. Stratton was acquired by the Rangers in a deadline trade with the St. Louis Cardinals, where the deal included starting pitcher Jordan Montgomery. During the 2023 season, Stratton boasted a 3.92 ERA in 64 relief appearances split between the Cardinals and the Rangers.
In his 29 innings with the Rangers, Stratton maintained a commendable 3.41 ERA. However, his postseason outings with the team saw him concede four runs on four hits and two walks across four innings. The 33-year-old pitcher has navigated through five different teams since his MLB debut with the San Francisco Giants in 2016, making stops with the Los Angeles Angels, Pittsburgh Pirates, and the aforementioned Cardinals.
With a career record of 37-24, a 4.43 ERA, 1.411 WHIP, and 8.3 strikeouts per nine innings in 302 MLB appearances, Stratton brings a wealth of experience to the Royals’ bullpen. Meanwhile, the Rangers are actively seeking multiple relievers to reinforce their bullpen. Despite recent signings like Kirby Yates, the team remains committed to further bolstering their relief corps before the onset of Spring Training. As it stands, Yates, Jose Leclerc, Josh Sborz, Brock Burke, and Cody Bradford appear to be strong contenders for five of the 13 bullpen spots on the opening-day roster.
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