Ian

Kennedy

Kennedy made 16 relief appearances this season for the Rangers and will retire as a World Series champion following a 17-year career that dates back to 2007. The 38-year-old righty steps away with 104 wins and 66 career saves to accompany a respectable 4.16 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 1,775/647 K/BB ratio across 1,904 1/3 innings (497 appearances, 290 starts) in the big leagues. He spent time with the Royals, Diamondbacks, Padres, Yankees, Rangers and Phillies in his lengthy career.

The injury will end the 38-year-old hurler’s season. Kennedy registered a troublesome 7.16 ERA, 1.41 WHIP and a 21/7 K/BB ratio over 16 1/3 innings in 16 appearances for the Rangers this season. It’s possible, that this is the last we see of Kennedy at the big league level.

Kennedy opted out of his contract with the Rangers in mid-May — then re-signed a minor league deal with the club in late June after he was unable to find a better opportunity elsewhere. The 38-year-old right-hander has posted a 3.51 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and a 30/9 K/BB ratio across 25 2/3 innings in 22 appearances at Triple-A Round Rock this season. He’s likely to function in a middle relief role for the Rangers.

Kennedy is back with the Rangers roughly one month after electing free agency after being designated for assignment by the organization. The 38-year-old righty made 11 relief appearances this season in the majors and will head to Triple-A Round Rock as extra relief depth.

Kennedy opted to explore free agency rather than remain with the Rangers at Triple-A Round Rock as extra organizational relief depth. The 38-year-old right-hander went unclaimed on waivers last week after being designated for assignment following 11 lackluster relief appearances this season.

Kennedy has been scored upon in three out of his last four appearances and holds a rough 7.20 ERA for the year. The 38-year-old could be nearing the end of the lineup.

Kennedy signed a minor league contract back in late January with the Rangers and winds up making their Opening Day roster. The 38-year-old veteran righty is now officially back for a 17th season in the majors.

It certainly sounds like Leclerc is the front-runner for saves this season in Texas, but Young added that the Rangers have a number of pitchers with closing experience, specifically citing Jonathan Hernández, Ian Kennedy, Brett Martin and even Brock Burke as potential ninth-inning options. Leclerc should be considered the favorite for early-season saves, but he’s had control issues in the past, which could open the door for someone else to step into the role. It’s a situation worth monitoring closely at the outset of the 2023 season.

Kennedy signed a minor league deal with the Rangers two years ago and wound up with 26 saves, 10 of which came after a trade to Philadelphia. The 36-year-old veteran stopper added 10 more saves in Arizona last year, but it was still a rough season in which he wound up with a 5.36 ERA 1.57 WHIP and 44/22 K/BB ratio across 50 1/3 innings (57 appearances). At this point, he’s probably more of a last-man-in-the-pen type than someone who should be working with leads in high-leverage situations.

Nothing official from the Rangers yet, but Kennedy, who made the announcement on his social media pages, is returning to Texas after the Diamondbacks declined their half of his $4 million mutual option for 2023. The 38-year-old veteran right-hander finished last season with an inflated 5.36 ERA, 1.57 WHIP and 44/22 K/BB ratio across 50 1/3 innings (57 appearances). He’ll likely pitch in middle relief for the Rangers this season.