Can Alexi Ogando save his career?

Alexi Ogando had an unpredictable five-year stint with the Texas Rangers. With health issues and role changes derailing his potential, the Rangers have decided to end its relationship with Ogando. He was one of the various non-tender victims throughout the MLB. An eventual return is possible if Ogando goes unsigned by another organization, but that seems unlikely.

In 41.2 IP during his rookie year in 2010, the right-handed Ogando sported a 1.30 ERA. In the following year, he made the All-Star team as a starting pitcher. He ended the season with a 13-9 record and a 3.51 ERA. In 2012, he went back to the bullpen. In 2013, he mostly started games. This past season, injuries prevented him from establishing a rhythm in relief. That’s a jarring amount of responsibility shifts.

For a five-year run, Texas unfairly put Ogando through the ringer with an overload of role changes. With the talented 31-year-old now a free agent, one primary question is staring him down. Can he save his career? The Rangers’ excessive tinkering and Ogando’s poor health have put this question in doubt, but his past success suggests a reinvention is possible.

With a defined role, either a regular starter or staple in the bullpen, Ogando could find comfort. Given his fastball, slider and changeup combination, he has versatility. According to FanGraphs, Ogando’s career fastball velocity clocks in at 95 mph on average. This makes him strongly suited for relief due to an opportunity to let loose and not fire 100 or more pitches every contest. He should also rarely pitch on consecutive days or for more than one inning at a time.

More from Call to the Pen

• Philadelphia Phillies, ready for a stretch run, bomb St. Louis Cardinals
• Philadelphia Phillies: The 4 players on the franchise’s Mount Rushmore
• Boston Red Sox fans should be upset over Mookie Betts’ comment
• Analyzing the Boston Red Sox trade for Dave Henderson and Spike Owen
• 2023 MLB postseason likely to have a strange look without Yankees, Red Sox, Cardinals

This experiment will require patience. The Pittsburgh Pirates have recently reinvented Francisco Liriano and Edinson Volquez. Pirates’ pitching coach Ray Searage is largely credited for these transformations. With both players possibly leaving during free agency, Pittsburgh should be a candidate for the Ogando reclamation project.

His expected 2015 salary prior to being non-tendered was $2.6 million. Texas deemed that too pricey to continue with Ogando, but another team should give him a one-year deal at a reasonable price. He has the velocity, track record and lack of taxing on his arm to succeed in relief.

The current market features outrageous contacts that severely overpay players. Superb relievers are becoming expensive. In a classic buy-low scenario, Ogando has top-notch potential and multiple years left prior to deterioration. If the experiment fails, it’s a minor loss and intelligent attempt. If it succeeds, Ogando finding his form will be one of the best bargains in 2015.