Rangers’ cash in on options; Yoshinori Tateyama and Colby Lewis remain at Texas
The Texas Rangers wasted no time in picking up two easy options for the 2012 season on Monday, October 31. The club’s general manager (GM), Jon Daniels, confirmed the news that the team had exercised options on Yoshinori Tateyama and Colby Lewis. Both hurlers
come back to the club with a wide variety of skills to showcase from the mound.
Colby Lewis will play in the upcoming season for a valuation of just $3.25 million. He happens to be the cheapest picking for the club, in terms of salary costs as the hurler has immensely improved his talents over the last few years. The 32 year-old was
reasonably good this season, as he posted an earning runs average of 4.40, going 14 – 10 in the year.
The right hand pitcher may be a weak conceder of homers but his performance tends to pick up in the postseason. In his last eight playoff games, he stands on 4 – 1 with an earning runs average of just 2.34. The club had a buyout option of $250,000 but there
was no way the club would let go of its second choice starter.
"Colby's been a workhorse for us the last couple years, and you can't say enough about this guy's makeup," Daniels said. "There's no one I would want on the mound, certainly in October."
Tateyama’s option was exercised for the cost of just $1 million. He comes back to the club, with a sound contribution from the 2011 season as a relief hurler. He was 2 – 0 in the regular season, playing 39 games and posting an earning runs average of 4.50.
With countryman, Koji Uehara, on his side, there is much improvement to expect from the hurler in 2012.
"Yoshi stepped up in the bullpen at a time the club really needed it," Rangers general manager Jon Daniels said in a statement. "He's a veteran strike thrower with outstanding makeup and we're happy to have him back."
The 35-year-old may look old but he gives the club a different approach in the bullpen. The Rangers will now be trying to sign back C. J. Wilson as their premier starter moves to the free agency.
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