Royals Sign Another Rangers Reliever
Another Texas Rangers bullpen arm is leaving. Right-hander Chris Stratton is signing a two-year, $8 million deal with the Kansas City Royals, according to MLB.com. Mark Feinsand reports that Stratton is due $3.5 million next season and has a $4.5 million player option in 2025.
Stratton is the second Rangers reliever to sign with the Royals in recent days. The club’s 2023 saves leader, Will Smith, also signed a one-year deal with Kansas City.
The Rangers acquired Stratton in a deadline trade with the St. Louis Cardinals that included starting pitcher Jordan Montgomery. Stratton had a 3.92 ERA in 64 relief appearances with the Cardinals and Rangers in 2023. In 29 innings with the Rangers, Stratton had a 3.41 ERA. In four postseason appearances with the Rangers, Stratton allowed four runs on four hits and two walks in four innings. Stratton, 33, has spent time with five clubs since his 2016 MLB debut with the San Francisco Giants, including stints with the Los Angeles Angels, Pittsburgh Pirates, and St. Louis Cardinals.
Stratton is 37-24 with a 4.43 ERA, 1.411 WHIP, 8.3 strikeouts per nine innings, 12 saves, and a 1.8 WAR in 302 career MLB appearances. The Rangers are looking for multiple relievers to help shore up their bullpen. Although they’ve signed a few, including Kirby Yates, the club is likely to add several more before Spring Training. At the moment, Texas has Yates, Jose Leclerc, Josh Sborz, Brock Burke, and Cody Bradford, who seem to be a lock to fill five of the 13 bullpen spots on the opening-day roster.
