The Rangers introduced the signing of lefty reliever Hoby Milner to a one-year contract. Texas designated former prime prospect Owen White for task to open a spot on the 40-man roster. Milner, a consumer of MVP Sports activities Group, is reportedly assured $2.5MM. He can earn one other $500K in incentives — $100K every for reaching 35 and 45 appearances, adopted by $150K bonuses at 55 and 65 video games.
Milner is a Dallas native who attended the College of Texas. The previous Longhorn started his profession with the Phillies, who chosen him within the seventh spherical of the 2012 draft. Milner had temporary MLB stints with the Phillies, Rays and Angels earlier than discovering his approach to Milwaukee on a minor league contract after the 2020 season.
The low-slot southpaw had a stable 4 years with the Brew Crew. He posted fascinating strikeout and stroll numbers in 2021, so the Brewers retained him regardless of a 5.40 earned run common. That was a smart name, as Milner was a key piece of Craig Counsell’s bullpen between 2022-23. He mixed for a 2.79 ERA throughout 129 innings over that stretch. Solely 30 relievers across the league logged a heavier workload. Milner fanned a stable 23.5% of opponents whereas limiting his walks to a 5.3% fee. His arm angle flummoxed left-handed hitters, who managed a .199/.259/.284 line throughout 223 plate appearances.
Milner’s outcomes regressed in 2024. He was tagged for a 4.73 ERA whereas lefties had a markedly improved .286/.290/.467 slash over 109 journeys to the plate. But Milner ran a formidable 27:1 strikeout-to-walk ratio whereas he held the platoon benefit.
His peripherals extra broadly remained robust. He punched out almost 24% of batters confronted and stored the ball on the bottom greater than half the time that opponents made contact. He tied his profession excessive with 64 2/3 innings. The ERA soar was a results of an enormous spike in opposing hitters’ common on balls in play, in addition to a major drop within the variety of runners Milner left on base.
The Brewers nonetheless determined to maneuver on as a substitute of tendering him an arbitration contract at a projected $2.7MM wage. That labored out fairly nicely for Milner, who finds a assured contract at almost the identical fee along with his hometown group for his age-34 season. It’s the second bullpen pickup for the Rangers in as many weeks. They added Jacob Webb, who had considerably surprisingly been non-tendered by the Orioles, on a $1.25MM pact. GM Chris Younger and his employees want so as to add a number of arms to a ’pen that would lose every of Kirby Yates, David Robertson, José Leclerc and José Ureña to free company. They’ll begin with a pair of reasonably priced veterans who can work within the center innings.
Mark Feinsand of MLB.com was first to report Milner was signing with Texas on a one-year deal. Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning Information reported the $2.5MM assure. The Related Press reported the inducement construction.
Picture courtesy of Imagn.
