MLB Trade Rumors 2016: Yovani Gallardo Agrees to Play for the Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles got a huge roster boost with the signing of starting pitcher Yovani Gallardo, which reportedly is for three years and an option for the fourth year. After spending one season with the Texas Rangers, the longtime Milwaukee Brewers pitcher now finds a new home — a team that has all the right tools to become a legitimate contender this season.
The 29-year-old currently owns a 3.66 ERA in his nine-year career, eight of which were played in Milwaukee. Last year, he made quite an impact for the Rangers, too, throwing 184 1/3 innings, maintaining his streak of having pitched a minimum of 180 frames for seven years.
Gallardo will now be joining a loaded pitching rotation for the Orioles, consisting of Chris Tillman, Ubaldo Jimenez, Miguel Gonzalez, and Kevin Gausman. Prior to this signing, the team was considered as having one of the weakest rotations in the American League (East). However, the addition of Gallardo is more than sufficient for them to get that label off the team's back.
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The right-hander more than deserves the three-year contract considering the kind of performance he had for the Rangers last season. The money he's getting, which reportedly is around $35 million may not be as big as those superstars in the league, but the most important thing right here is the kind of talent he's bringing in to the team.
Several observers thought he should have been an All-Star last season after producing a scoreless innings streak back in June up to July. The Rangers got him from the Brewers last offseason because the team was in desperate need of an upgrade in the starting rotation. He made a good account of himself, going 13-11 with 3.42 ERA in his lone season in Texas. It's unclear why the Rangers didn't make an effort to keep him, but they're expected to make a move to fill in the space left by Gallardo before the start of the season.
