Rangers acquire Jake Petricka from Brewers

The Texas Rangers have acquired right-handed reliever Jake Petricka from the Milwaukee Brewers in exchange for cash or a player to be named later, according to an announcement from John Blake, the Rangers’ Executive Vice President of Communications.

Petricka, who just turned 31, is a former second-round selection of the Chicago White Sox. He made his debut at the age of 25 in 2013, and has spent parts of every season since then in the majors. Petricka remained in Chicago through the end of the 2017 season, when he became a free agent and signed with the Toronto Blue Jays for the 2018 campaign. He became a free agent again after that season, and that is when he signed a one-year, minor-league deal with Milwaukee.

Through six relief appearances at the major league level this season, Petricka has posted a 3.38 ERA, surrendering three runs on six hits and six walks in eight innings. He has struck out three batters. He’s done significantly better in Triple-A (the level that he has been assigned to with the Rangers organization), boasting a 1.89 ERA and 1-1 record with three saves in 16 relief appearances totaling 19 innings. During this time, he allowed five runs on 14 hits and four walks while striking out 22 batters.

The Rangers were expected to be a poor team this season but surprises from guys like Hunter Pence, Logan Forsythe, and Danny Santana have turned their offense into one of the best in baseball. However, perhaps what keeps them hovering just above .500 and not quite yet at the level of the Astros is their pitching staff, which ranks in the bottom third in all of baseball. Adding Petricka for a small return provides security and depth in the bullpen, and it’s likely we see him in the majors soon if a 40-man roster spot opens up at the same time that there is a bullpen vacancy.