The Texas Rangers this afternoon announced that the club has signed free agent right-handed pitcher Chris Tillman to a minor league contract. Tillman is expected to report to Triple-A Round Rock at some point in the next few days.
Tillman, 30, went 1-5 with a 10.46 ERA in 7 games/starts with Baltimore this season, with his last start for the Orioles coming on May 10 versus Kansas City. He was on the Baltimore disabled list from May 11-July 19 with a lower back strain, going 0-3 with a 6.75 ERA (20 ER/26.2 IP) in 6 games/starts on an injury rehabilitation assignment with 4 different Orioles affiliates. He last pitched for Triple-A Norfolk on July 15 against Gwinnett (5.1 IP, 8 H, 2 R-ER, 1 BB, 3 SO, 1 HR, 100 pitches/61 strikes). Tillman was designated for assignment on July 20 and unconditionally released on July 27.
Originally acquired by the Orioles in a February 2008 trade with the Mariners involving Erik Bedard, Tillman has spent his entire big league career in the Baltimore organization. Over four seasons from 2013-16, he posted a 56-30 record with a 3.91 ERA in 128 games/starts for the O’s, ranking among American League leaders in that span in wins (T3rd), starts (T3rd), and innings (9th, 758.2). He was selected to the A.L. All-Star team in 2013.
