Rangers Land Ex-Yankees Pitcher, Former All-Star After Rollercoaster Season
The Texas Rangers landed a former member of the New York Yankees on Wednesday.
The reigning champion Rangers have been looking for ways to improve their bullpen this offseason and are taking a chance on former All-Star Shane Greene, according to the club.
"The Rangers today announced the signings of three players to minor league contracts with invitations to Major League Spring Training: (right-handed pitcher) Shane Greene, (right-handed pitcher) Jonathan Holder, and (right-handed pitcher) Austin Pruitt," the team said.
Greene spent the 2023 season in the Chicago Cubs organization but had an up-and-down year. He signed a minor league deal with Chicago last season and after five appearances with the Triple-A Iowa Cubs was called up to the big leagues. He made two overall appearances with the Cubs and was sent back down to the minors.
Overall, Greene made 12 appearances in the minors last season and logged a 1.84 ERA and 31-to-12 strikeout-to-walk ratio across 29 1/3 innings of work. He made two appearances with the Cubs and didn't allow a run in three innings while striking out three batters.
It's not surprising the Rangers are taking a chance on someone like Greene because he is a 10-year big league veteran with a career 4.50 ERA in 345 total appearances. Texas gave him a minor league deal so if he can impress in Spring Training, maybe he could make the jump back to the big leagues. If he struggles, they can send him to the minors and have no negative response.
Greene was selected in the 15th round of the 2009 Major League Baseball Draft by the Yankees and eventually made his big league debut with the club in 2014. Throughout his career, he has spent time with New York, the Detroit Tigers, Atlanta Braves, Los Angeles Dodgers, and the Cubs and has one All-Star nod under his belt.
