Esmerling Vasquez

Esmerling Vasquez

41-Year-Old PitcherP
 Free Agent  
2024 Fantasy Outlook
There was no outlook written for Esmerling Vasquez in 2024. Check out the latest news below for more on his current fantasy value.
$Signed a minor-league contract with the Rangers in March of 2020.
Joins Rangers on minor-league deal
PTexas Rangers  
March 26, 2020
Vasquez signed a minor-league contract with Rangers on Thursday, Andersen Pickard of MLBDailyDish.com reports.
ANALYSIS
Vasquez was assigned to Triple-A Nashville after agreeing to the deal. He spent the 2019 season in the Rangers organization but managed just a 6.37 ERA and 1.61 WHIP across 35.1 innings between Double and Triple-A.
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Past Fantasy Outlooks
2012
2011
2010
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The strong strikeout rate Vasquez showed with Arizona in 2009 and 2010 disappeared last season and he was demoted to Triple-A in June. He's always struggled with control and a low groundball rate, so he didn't offer much in the majors without the strikeouts (just a 5.93 K/9IP). He struggled at Triple-A Reno with a 6.18 ERA but at least had an 8.60 K/9IP. Arizona gave up on him after the season and he was claimed off waivers by Minnesota. He did maintain his strong velocity last season (93.4 mpg average fastball) and at least walked fewer batters, so there's some hope the Twins can get him on track. He'll compete for a bullpen job this spring, but likely begins the season at Triple-A. There's room in a Minnesota bullpen without many high-powered arms if he gets on track.
Control issues aside, Vasquez appears to have fully recovered from the torn labrum he suffered in the Arizona Fall League a few years back. The D-Backs gave him the ball 57 times last season, and he struck out more than a batter per inning (9.2 K/9IP). The problem here continues to be walks, as Vasquez issued more than his fair share of free passes (6.4 BB/9IP). The arsenal of a good setup man is here, but that opportunity will have to wait until the aforementioned control trouble is addressed.
A transition to relief work led to 53 appearances out of the Arizona bullpen for Vasquez last season. With a fastball that sits in the 94-96 mph range and pretty good secondary stuff including a changeup and a slider, he could show further improvement in his second crack at relief work in 2010. Vasquez once projected as a middle of the rotation starter before he tore his labrum while pitching in the Arizona Fall League in 2007, but give him credit for getting back in any capacity from an injury that has become notorious for derailing many pitchers' careers. He'll try to lock down his bullpen spot with an eye toward potential set-up duty in front of Arizona closer Chad Qualls during spring training.
Vasquez opted for rehab of a torn labrum in his right shoulder rather than undergoing surgery, while he struggled with his command at Triple-A Tucson (7.92 BB/9IP) in mixed work as a starter and reliever. The D-Backs sent him to the Dominican Winter League to log more innings, but his mixed results throughout 2008 suggest that surgery may be in his future. At 25, his once promising long-term outlook as the organization's minor league player of the year in 2007 appears to have been derailed by a fluke injury. If he doesn't undergo the knife, Vasquez will return to Tucson and try to back on track.
More Fantasy News
PMinnesota Twins  
November 5, 2012
Vasquez agreed to a minor league contract Monday with the Twins that includes an invitation to spring training, the Minneapolis Star-Tribune reports.
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PMinnesota Twins  
October 24, 2012
Vasquez was outrighted off the 40-man roster by Minnesota.
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PMinnesota Twins  
October 1, 2012
Vasquez was not particularly sharp in a no-decision against the Blue Jays on Monday as he pitched 5.2 innings and allowed three runs, six hits and three walks to go along with one strikeout.
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PMinnesota Twins  
September 25, 2012
Vasquez went six innings allowing two runs on seven hits while striking out five, but he didn't factor into the decision of Tuesday's win over the Yankees.
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PMinnesota Twins  
September 15, 2012
Vasquez allowed three runs on three hits and four walks with four strikeouts over 5.2 innings against the White Sox on Friday.
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