The defending champions are adding to their lineup even more. Tyler Mahle, a right-handed pitcher, was signed to a two-year, $22 million contract by the Texas Rangers. After various outlets broke the news earlier in the day, Texas officially confirmed the transaction on social media Thursday evening.
Rangers Sign Tyler Mahle to Two-Year Deal
The transaction is a bit of a gamble for the Rangers because Mahle is coming off Tommy John surgery, which ended his 2023 season with the Minnesota Twins. He will most certainly miss a portion of next season as he recovers. When Mahle returns, he will join a Texas rotation that is already deep. While Jordan Montgomery and Nathan Eovaldi carried the Rangers to their first World Series championship, they will not be the Rangers’ only weapons next season. Jacob deGrom is also recovering from Tommy John surgery, and Max Scherzer has a contract for next season.
Right-handed starter Tyler Mahle and the Texas Rangers are in agreement on a two-year, $22 million contract, sources told ESPN. Mahle underwent Tommy John surgery in May and should return this season, and he can earn another $5 million in performance bonuses based on IP in 2025.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) December 14, 2023
Mahle is expected to fit into the middle or rear positions of the pitching rotation upon his return, alongside Martin Perez and Andrew Heaney, who also remain as options for the lower end of the rotation. The Texas Rangers have an abundance of pitching talent as they aim for a repeat in 2024.
His move to a new team marks a fresh beginning for Mahle, concluding a tumultuous period marked by injuries during his time with the Minnesota team. He was traded to the Twins from the Cincinnati Reds in 2022, with Spencer Steer, Christian Encarnacion-Strand, and Steve Hajjar going to the Reds in exchange. Steer and Encarnacion-Strand have since debuted in the majors for Cincinnati, showing promise as foundational players. However, Mahle’s tenure with the Twins fell short of expectations. He managed just nine starts across two seasons, posting a 2-3 record with a 3.64 ERA and 40 strikeouts in 42 innings. While his performance was acceptable, it didn’t endure long enough to justify the players traded for him. At 29 years old, a fresh start appears to be the necessary move for his career at this stage.
Leave a Reply