Rangers, Fister agree to 1-year deal worth reported $3.5M
The Texas Rangers have coaxed the hot stove into a warmer position by agreeing to a one-year contract with right-handed starting pitcher Doug Fister, the club announced Tuesday.
The deal is worth $3 million, with a $4.5-million team option for 2019 that can be bought out for $500,000, according to T.R. Sullivan of MLB.com.
The 33-year-old threw 90 1/3 innings for the Boston Red Sox last season, posting a 4.88 ERA and 3.98 FIP.
Through eight big-league seasons prior to 2017, Fister split time between the Seattle Mariners, Detroit Tigers, Washington Nationals, and Houston Astros. For his career, Fister owns an ERA nine percent better than the MLB average and a FIP six percent better than the league average.
The Rangers are in particularly dire need of starting pitching help after ranking 24th in MLB by FanGraphs' WAR. With Andrew Cashner potentially departing via free agency, the Rangers are entering the 2018 season with Cole Hamels and Martin Perez at the top of their rotation.