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Texas Rangers to re-sign Colby Lewis

By Nathaniel Reeves

Aug 9, 2015; Seattle, WA, USA; Texas Rangers pitcher Colby Lewis (48) throws against the Seattle Mariners during the first inning at Safeco Field. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Buchanan-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 9, 2015; Seattle, WA, USA; Texas Rangers pitcher Colby Lewis (48) throws against the Seattle Mariners during the first inning at Safeco Field. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Buchanan-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Texas Rangers add some rotation depth by bringing back veteran Colby Lewis.

Acquiring starting pitching help on the free agent market or through trades has proven to very expensive this offseason by bringing back one of their own after re-signing veteran starter Colby Lewis on a one-year, $6 million dollar contract, according to Jeff Wilson of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. 

The deal is contingent upon Lewis passing a physical that will examine his surgically repaired right knee. Lewis pitched through a torn meniscus for most of the 2015 season, but is expected to be fully recovered by  Opening Day.

Lewis originally came up with the Rangers in 2002 and has spent the last five seasons in Arlington. The 34-year-old posted a 4.66 ERA (4.17 FIP) in 33 starts per FanGraphs.com as a mainstay for the AL West champion Rangers last season.

Those aren’t terribly exciting numbers, but Lewis makes perfect sense as a No. 5 starter for Texas in 2016. Lewis is a reliable innings eater and doesn’t walk many betters to make up for his lack of strikeouts.

There is some injury concern with Lewis, as he missed much of 2012 and 2013 due to Tommy John Surgery, in addition to the knee problem. However, at just one year and $6 million, the Rangers aren’t exactly taking a huge risk by bringing Lewis back.

On paper, the Texas rotation is filled with upside for next season and beyond. Cole Hamels and Yu Darvish are a good enough 1-2 punch to lead Texas to the postseason once again, and Derek Holland, Nick Martinez and Chi Chi Gonzalez are all interesting in their own right.

However, there are also plenty of question marks behind Hamels. Nobody knows what to expect from Darvish coming off of Tommy John Surgery of his own. Holland and Martinez have been inconsistent over the past couple of years, while Gonzalez has to prove his excellent start to last season wasn’t a total fluke.

In an ideal world, Lewis would be a swingman or long relief guy behind those five. However, starting rotations rarely go according to plan, and Lewis provides good depth at the very least. Even if everyone is healthy, Lewis has a good chance to beat out Gonzalez for the No. 5 spot next spring, provided he passes the physical.

While bringing Lewis back on a cheap deal certainly doesn’t eliminate the Rangers from bringing back Yovani Gallardo, it seems likely he will be heading elsewhere.

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