After the Twins series wrapped, news broke that the Rays have signed SP Kyle Gibson to a minor league deal.
Heading into the off-season, 37-year old veteran starting pitcher Kyle Gibson was considered a top free agent at FanGraphs — 50th out of 50 — and was projected to a $10 million deal. He settled for half of that with the Baltimore Orioles, and things didn’t go well.
Gibson’s velocity has been on a downward spiral, and at this stage of his career he might be better served as a righty specialist, but his best trait has always been eating innings, making his profile a complicated one to project. Dating back to 2014, when he debuted, Gibson is the league leader in games started and trails only Max Scherzer and Gerrit Cole in innings pitched, but father time comes for us all.
Signing late in the Spring, the O’s seemingly rushed Gibson to the majors — desperate for the help — and then gave him four starts and 12.1 IP, and he gave up 23 earned runs. Imagining a normal Spring for Gibson might allow him to stay with Baltimore a bit longer, but back tightness sidelined the vet and the O’s cut him in need of roster space.
Baltimore’s loss is Tampa Bay’s gain.
Long viewed as a mentor to young pitchers on a staff, Gibson will head to a Durham team that is stocked with the next wave of Rays starters in Joe Boyle, Ben Peoples, Joe Rock, Ian Seymour, and Logan Workman, to name a few.
Gibson could be the next man up if the Rays need it, spot starter Boyle was pulled during his most recent start due to diminished velocity (although he’s not on the injured list at this time), but the Rays also have Shane McClanahan throwing at 120 feet and prepping a return to the mound later this year.
