Rangers Add Kyle McClellan

Seemingly set in their starting rotation, the Texas Rangers took a step towards adding some viable depth to the mix on Tuesday, signing free agent Kyle McClellan to a minor league deal. McClellan will receive an invitation to Spring Training with the deal.

(Mandatory Credit: Scott Rovak-USA TODAY Sports)

The 28 year old pitched just 18.2 innings this past season for the St. Louis Cardinals before having his season come to an end in mid-May. He underwent surgery on July 10th on both his right shoulder and elbow, but reportedly is already throwing bullpen sessions again and appears to be on track in his rehabilitation. St. Louis elected to release him in November rather than risk giving him a raise via arbitration (MLBTR projects he’d of earned $2.4 Million).

Over the past five seasons McClellan has posted an overall record of 19-23 with a 3.69 ERA in 378.0 innings of work, mostly coming out of the bullpen. He did post a 12-7 mark in 2011, making 17 starts for the Cardinals when their starting rotation was decimated by injury. He looked good out of the team’s rotation for most of the year, filling in for an injured Adam Wainwright, but ultimately lost his spot in the rotation once the team acquired Edwin Jackson midseason.

The right-hander could potentially be a replacement for Scott Feldman with the Rangers, serving in a swingman capacity but principally working out of the bullpen, assuming he’s able to prove his health and win a spot on the Rangers’ roster.