The Texas Rangers and veteran starting pitcher Colby Lewis reportedly reached an agreement on a one-year, $6 million deal late Thursday.
Jeff Wilson of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports the re-signing is dependent on Lewis passing a physical after dealing with a knee injury, which might not happen until after the holidays. Jon Heyman of CBS Sports confirmed the terms of the deal are in place.
The Rangers originally selected Lewis in the 1999 MLB draft. He struggled across three years with the big club after making his way through the system, though. He also failed to lock down a spot during brief stints with the Detroit Tigers and Oakland Athletics.
That led to a journey to Japan, where he would spend two years with the Hiroshima Toyo Carp before returning stateside and rejoining the Rangers.
He’s been more effective since his return in 2010. He posted a 3.72 ERA and 1.19 WHIP with 196 strikeouts in 201 innings in that first year back in MLB. He’s been unable to match that success in the years that followed, but he’s still provided a reliable veteran presence in the middle of the rotation.
Lewis stated in early December that he hoped it would work out so he could stay with Texas, as noted by Wilson.
“There are quite a few other teams that have called and have gotten all the medicals. We’ll see. This is my first choice,” Lewis said. “This is where I want to be. If I don’t fit in, then I don’t fit it. That’s just how baseball operates these days.”
Or Moyal of WFAA expanded on what he brings to the team:
The 36-year-old right-hander certainly isn’t an ace, a role he’s been forced to fill with the Rangers at times in recent years. That said, he should slot in nicely behind the likes of Cole Hamels, Yu Darvish and Derek Holland in 2016.
His ability to provide the veteran influence described Moyal simply adds to his overall value. It’s a wise one-year investment for a Rangers club that will be looking to repeat as AL West champs.
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