Rangers sign free agent LHP Mike Minor to three-year contract

The Texas Rangers today announced the signing of free agent left-handed pitcher Mike Minor (#36) to a three-year contract covering the 2018, 2019, and 2020 seasons. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
The left-hander, who will turn 30 years old on December 26, posted a 6-6 record with 6 saves and a 2.55 ERA (22 ER/77.2 IP) over 65 relief appearances with Kansas City last season, his first major league action since 2014. Minor's 1.017 WHIP figure was the 10th-lowest in the majors by any pitcher with 70.0-or-more innings pitched in 2017 and he held left-handed batters to a .163 (15-92) average, the 7th-lowest mark in the American League (minimum 90 batters faced). He averaged 10.20 strikeouts per 9 innings and his 0.58 home runs per 9 figure was the 2nd-lowest among any A.L. pitcher with 70.0+ innings, bettered by only Texas reliever Alex Claudio (0.54 HR/9). Minor was twice named Royals Pitcher of the Month in 2017 (May/September).
The 6-foot-4, 220-pound veteran is expected to be a starting pitcher with the Rangers, a role he filled in the early years of his career with Atlanta, when he went 38-36 with a 4.10 ERA over 111 games/110 starts for the Braves from 2010-14. Minor did not pitch in the majors in 2015-16 following surgery for a torn labrum in his left shoulder on May 13, 2015, although he made 10 starts on minor league injury rehabilitation assignments in the Kansas City organization in 2016. His last major league start came with the Braves on September 20, 2014 vs. New York-NL.
From the 2012 All-Star break through the end of 2014, Minor compiled a 3.52 ERA that ranks 11th in the National League among pitchers with at least 70 starts. He also won his lone career postseason start in 2013 NLDS Game 2 vs. Los Angeles-NL (6.1 IP, 1 R-ER), besting Zack Greinke in the Braves' only win of the series against the Dodgers.
A Tennessee native and Vanderbilt University product, Minor originally signed with Atlanta after being the 7th overall selection in the 2009 June draft. He was previously drafted by Tampa Bay out of high school in 2006 (13th round), but did not sign with the Rays.
With the signing of Minor, the Rangers now have 37 players on the club's major league roster.