On the heels of a strong 2015 season with the Texas Rangers, starting pitcher Yovani Gallardo cashed in as a free agent Saturday by signing with the Baltimore Orioles.
MLB Network's Jon Heyman reported Gallardo got a three-year deal worth $35 million from the Orioles. Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports confirmed the deal.
Heyman added that the deal includes a fourth-year option and some of the money is being deferred.
The Rangers acquired Gallardo from the Milwaukee Brewers last offseason in hopes of fortifying a starting rotation that struggled in 2014. He certainly helped, as he went 13-11 with a 3.42 ERA and was a driving force behind Texas winning the American League West.
The 29-year-old righty was regarded as one of the biggest All-Star snubs in the league, due largely to a scoreless innings streak in June and July that rivaled some of the best such runs in Rangers history, according to ESPN Stats & Info:
The Rangers could have dealt Gallardo prior to the trade deadline, but they decided to pass up acquiring assets in favor of making a run toward the postseason.
While the Toronto Blue Jays ousted Texas in the American League Division Series in five games, it is difficult to argue with the Rangers' decision to keep Gallardo since he was a huge part of the team contending.
Regardless of what other moves the Rangers might make with their rotation this offseason, losing a pitcher of Gallardo's caliber will be tough to overcome. He was the only cog in the rotation that manager Jeff Banister could count on to turn in a quality start almost every time out until the team acquired Cole Hamels ahead of the deadline.
During Gallardo's impressive scoreless innings streak, Banister pointed out the right-hander had evolved, per Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News:
I think the kind of stuff he pitches with now, he understands who he is and the type of pitcher he is. I think he pitches more to the ground ball a little bit on a regular basis. He doesn't carry the same velocity that he did early on in his career.
He understands how to move it around more, to cut it, to sink it. When you can nail that outside fastball and pitch in when you need to, then you can expand the strike zone with a breaking ball. He's a very tough competitor.
Gallardo has made significant strides on the mound, and while he may not be as overpowering as he was earlier in his career, he seemingly has a better understanding of how to get hitters out.
The 2010 All-Star is also accustomed to the postseason stage. He made playoff starts in 2008, 2011 and 2015 and holds a 2-2 record with a 2.32 ERA across 31 innings. Though it isn't a large sample size, it is enough to know he isn't going to fold in high-pressure situations.
The Orioles badly needed to add another starter to their rotation after losing Wei-Yin Chen to the Miami Marlins. Baltimore's starting five doesn't boast a true ace, but Gallardo joins a deep mix that includes Chris Tillman, Miguel Gonzalez, Ubaldo Jimenez and Kevin Gausman.
Gausman has the highest upside in the bunch and could emerge as the No. 1 starter that the Orioles need. Gallardo gives Baltimore a stable presence in the middle of the rotation as it looks to keep pace with the Toronto Blue Jays, New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox in the loaded AL East.
Plenty of big-name pitchers hit the free-agent market, and while Gallardo may not have the same cachet as many of them, he could turn out to be among the best values.
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