D

Live Blog Feed

Rangers Gobble Up Pitcher

Posted on March 21st, 2009 11:48pm by Evan Grant
Filed under Roster report, Talkin' baseball, Transactions

The Rangers signed LHP Jimmy Gobble, who was released by Kansas City Friday, to a minor league contract late Saturday. Gobble, 27, will report to major league spring training Sunday morning and will have about two weeks to prove to the Rangers he could be a viable bullpen option.

From the official press release announcing the move (kicking myself because I meant to ask Jon Daniels about it earlier in the week when I saw Gobble had been designated for assignment):

Gobble, 27, has spent his entire professional career in the Kansas City organization. The Royals requested unconditional release waivers on Gobble on Wednesday and he was officially released yesterday. Over the past 3 seasons, he has held left-handed batters to a .236 (65-275) average, including a .200 (13-65) mark last season. He allowed just one homer to a left-handed batter in 2008, that off the bat of Rangers outfielder David Murphy.

He has gone 22-23 with a 5.23 ERA in 235 games/43 starts in his major league career, spending the bulk of the last 5 seasons in the majors after making his big league debut in 2003. Originally a supplemental pick (43rd overall) in the 1999 June draft, Gobble tossed 7.0 scoreless innings over 8 outings last September after returning from a disabled list stint. He has no record and a 4.91 ERA (2 ER/3.2 IP) in 4 appearances for the Royals this spring.

Gobble provides the Rangers some insurance in case their balky set of left-handed relievers, C.J. Wilson (blister) and Eddie Guarado (shoulder), struggle. With minor league free agent Joe Torres being a non-factor this spring, the Rangers were on the lookout for possible left-handed pitching additions.

The Rangers have two promising lefties in the minor league system who could move fast: Michael Ballard and Corey Young. While Ballard is splitting prep time between starting and relieving, Young is considered strictly a reliever. Both would have to come awfully quick, however, if Guardado’s shoulder proved to be problematic.

7 Comments to “Rangers Gobble Up Pitcher”

L @ March 22nd, 2009 at 1:36 am

Ballard is promising? Could’ve fooled me.
Ryin A @ March 22nd, 2009 at 9:30 am

Is Beau Jones out of the plans or something?
badspellr @ March 22nd, 2009 at 10:43 am

Does he have to be added to the 40 man now?
Flip @ March 22nd, 2009 at 11:18 am

“He has gone 22-23 with a 5.23 ERA”

Looks like Kevin Millwood numbers to me, lets pay him $10 million
horsedooty @ March 22nd, 2009 at 12:08 pm

Isn’t the KC pitching staff about the same level of mediocrity as the Rangers? If they let someone go, why would it be in the Rangers best interest to sign him to a contract? What am I missing?
Joel @ March 22nd, 2009 at 2:19 pm

Gobble has a track record of being an effective LOOGY, especially if he is still using that insane side-arm delivery (rumor has it he was scrapping that this off-season). No he doesn’t have to be added to the 40-man, it was a minor-league contract. If CJ and Eddie are fine, I’m betting he’s released or starts at AAA.
Rangerette @ March 22nd, 2009 at 6:38 pm

Gobble? Oh, this is going to be a good year. Evan will be punny 4 sure. TURKEY LEG DAY!!

InsideCorner is a daily blog-slash-online sports page, covering Dallas teams with original reporting, statistical analysis, obvious observations, and undeniable charm.

Subscribe via RSS (What is RSS?)

Follow InsideCorner on Twitter

InsideCorner Email Newsletter (Sign up!)

Email:

Browse the Archives

Browse the Archives

About/Contact

Meet the Bloggers