(Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)
Starting pitcher Tyler Mahle signed a two-year deal with the Texas Rangers, the organization announced on Thursday.
Mahle is currently represented by ISE Baseball and will receive $22 million guaranteed with his contract including earning up to $5 million in incentives depending on how many innings he pitches in 2025 when he recovers from Tommy John surgery.
Mahle will earn $5.5 million in 2024 and $16.5 million in 2025 along with a limited no-trade clause. The Rangers have two additional openings on their 40-man roster with Mahle not being able to pitch during the 2024 regular season as he continues to rehab.
Mahle, 29, was born in Newport Beach, Calif was drafted by the Cincinnati Reds in the seventh round of the 2013 Major League Baseball Amateur Draft and signed one June 13, 2013 forgoing his commitment to the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) after playing his senior season at Westminster High School in California.
Last season, Mahle played with the Minnesota Twins and started in five games posting a 1-2 record alongside a 3.16 ERA throwing 25.2 innings allowing 22 hits, nine earned runs, five home runs, five walks, 28 strikeouts, and a 1.052 WHIP before landing on the the 60-day injured list from the 15-day injured list on May 5 with a right arm posterior impingement and flexor pronator strain resulting in missing the remainder of the 2023 season.
Mahle elected free agency on November 2 prior to being acquired by the Rangers.
In 2022, Mahle played with the Reds and the Twins when he was traded to Minneapolis on August 2, 2022 for shortstop Spencer Steer, third baseman Christian Encarnacion-Strand and left-handed pitcher Steve Hajjar heading to Cincinnati. In 23 starts during 2022, Mahle threw 120.2 innings posting a 4.40 ERA with a 6-8 record allowing 104 hits, 59 earned runs, 16 home runs, 43 walks, 126 strikeouts and a 1.218 WHIP until he landed on the 15-day injured list with a right shoulder inflammation on September 4, 2022.
Mahle made his MLB debut on August 27, 2017 with the Reds and spent six seasons with the organization prior to being traded to the Twins. In seven big league seasons, Mahle has posted a 33-41 record with a 4.30 ERA in 122 starts throwing 635.2 innings allowing 598 hits, 304 earned runs, 98 home runs, 231 walks, 677 strikeouts, and a 1.304 WHIP during his career.
The Rangers average annual is at $11 million along with the organizations competitive balance tax number that is roughly at $232 million, FanGraphs states on the franchises payroll with the guaranteed salaries of Max Scherzer, Jacob deGrom, Corey Seager, Marcus Semien, Nathan Eovaldi, Jon Gray, Andrew Heaney, Jose Leclerc, Kirby Yates, and Mahle.
The Rangers carried their luxury tax at approximately $252 million during their championship season in 2023.
All 30 organizations have yet to announce when they will all report to Spring Training for Pitchers and Catchers in the middle of February.