Drew Hutchison signed, will start Sunday

Righthanded pitcher Drew Hutchison has been signed by the Texas Rangers and will start Sunday’s series finale against the Baltimore Orioles. The 40 man roster had an open spot, and a 25 man roster move will be announced tomorrow.

Hutchison, 27, had just opted out of a minor league deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Originally drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays, he spent the 2014 and 2015 season in the Jays rotation. He was traded to the Pirates in the middle of 2016, spent 2017 at AAA for the Pirates, signed with the Phillies for 2018, and was released in June.

Hutchison has a career 4.92 ERA in 439 innings, and is someone who will presumably get a look in the rotation over the final two months of the season. Hutchison is arbitration eligible for two seasons after this one, so he is controllable if the Rangers like what they see from him. In the short run, Ariel Jurado likely goes down to make room for him. Jurado has done nice work in his two starts since coming up to replace Cole Hamels, but he also probably isn’t really major league ready, so I can understand sending him back down, if that’s the move.

The Rangers have announced Martin Perez is scheduled to start on Monday, Bartolo Colon on Tuesday, and Yovani Gallardo on Wednesday.