Austin Bibens-Dirkx, Erik Goeddel signed to minor league deals

The Texas Rangers have signed righthanded pitchers Austin Bibens-Dirkx and Erik Goeddel to minor league deals, it was announced today. You might have missed this news what with the Martin Perez bull injury drama.

Bibens-Dirkx was a neat story from 2017, a guy who was brought up from the minors to make his major league debut at age 32, and who ended up sticking around in a swingman role for much of the season. He had a decent ERA but a 5+ FIP due to not missing bats, and he appears likely to be a minor league depth guy, but you could see him back in the majors again in a swingman role at some point in 2018 if injuries or ineffectiveness strike the pitching staff.

Goeddel, who turns 29 tomorrow, has been with the Mets organization since being drafted by them in 2010. Goeddel had a 2.48 ERA and a 2.58 FIP in his first two (partial) seasons with the Mets in 2014 and 2015, but his ERA and FIP have shot up the past two years due to a spike in his home run rate. He will presumably be depth in the Express bullpen, with a shot at getting a look in the majors if he performs.