Tony Barnette

After a successful five-year run in Japan, Barnette submitted a strong debut campaign with the Rangers in 2016, resulting in Texas earmarking him for a critical bullpen role ahead of last season. While manager Jeff Banister never wavered from using Barnette in key setup situations, the 34-year-old's numbers took a major hit nonetheless, with his ERA climbing nearly three and a half runs and his WHIP jumping from 1.16 to 1.50. That downturn in performance made it an easy decision for the Rangers to decline Barnette's $4 million option for 2018, but the team saw enough potential in the right-hander's underlying skills to retain him on a discounted deal. Much of Barnette's struggles can be pinned on an abnormally high .348 BABIP and a low 66.5 percent strand rate, so a bounce back in both areas could make him one of the more dependable middle-relief options for the Rangers.

Barnette returned to the States in 2016 following a five-year stint in Japan, and although he wasn't particularly dominant, there's no denying that he was effective as a member of the Rangers' bullpen. Despite not amassing a huge number of strikeouts, the right-hander displayed good control and, with the good fortune of an 85 percent strand rate, tallied 15 holds on the season. Barnette is on the wrong side of 30 and his FIP sat over a run above his actual ERA, but his 2016 performance has likely earned him a steady role in Texas' bullpen to begin the 2017 season. However, with the numerous options ahead of him in the pecking order, Barnette's role has little room for growth. He will need to keep relying on holds to garner any real value.

Barnette spent four years in the Diamondbacks system before moving to Japan's Yakult Swallows in 2010. After initially struggling as a starter, Barnette found success in the bullpen, culminating in a 1.29 ERA, 41-save performance in 2015. Barnette's style evolved quite a bit over his six seasons in Japan, and in 2015 he added a pause at the height of his delivery — a very Japanese touch. His fastball runs from 90-95 mph and will touch 97. He also features a tight slider and a solid changeup. Look for him to start out in a low-leverage role in a loaded Rangers bullpen after signing a two-year deal in December, with the potential to move to the later innings if his stuff translates against big league hitters.