The Rangers are signing lefty reliever Hoby Milner to a one-year contract, stories Mark Feinsand of MLB.com. Monetary phrases haven’t been reported. Milner is an MVP Sports activities Group consumer. Texas has a full 40-man roster and might want to make a commerce or designate somebody for project as soon as the signing is finalized.
Milner is a Dallas native who attended the College of Texas. The previous Longhorn started his profession with the Phillies, who chosen him within the seventh spherical of the 2012 draft. Milner had temporary MLB stints with the Phillies, Rays and Angels earlier than discovering his strategy to Milwaukee on a minor league contract after the 2020 season.
The low-slot southpaw had a stable 4 years with the Brew Crew. He posted fascinating strikeout and stroll numbers in 2021, so the Brewers retained him regardless of a 5.40 earned run common. That was a smart name, as Milner was a key piece of Craig Counsell’s bullpen between 2022-23. He mixed for a 2.79 ERA throughout 129 innings over that stretch. Solely 30 relievers across the league logged a heavier workload. Milner fanned a stable 23.5% of opponents whereas limiting his walks to a 5.3% price. His arm angle flummoxed left-handed hitters, who managed a .199/.259/.284 line throughout 223 plate appearances.
Milner’s outcomes regressed in 2024. He was tagged for a 4.73 ERA whereas lefties had a markedly improved .286/.290/.467 slash over 109 journeys to the plate. But Milner ran a powerful 27:1 strikeout-to-walk ratio whereas he held the platoon benefit.
His peripherals extra broadly remained robust. He punched out almost 24% of batters confronted and stored the ball on the bottom greater than half the time that opponents made contact. He tied his profession excessive with 64 2/3 innings. The ERA soar was a results of an enormous spike in opposing hitters’ common on balls in play, in addition to a big drop within the variety of runners Milner left on base.
The Brewers nonetheless determined to maneuver on as a substitute of tendering him an arbitration contract at a projected $2.7MM wage. That labored out moderately effectively for Milner, who finds a assured contract together with his hometown staff for his age-34 season. It’s the second bullpen pickup for the Rangers in as many weeks. They added Jacob Webb, who had considerably surprisingly been non-tendered by the Orioles, on a $1.25MM pact. GM Chris Younger and his workers want so as to add a number of arms to a ’pen that would lose every of Kirby Yates, David Robertson, José Leclerc and José Ureña to free company. They’ll begin with a pair of reasonably priced veterans who can work within the center innings.
Picture courtesy of Imagn.
