Cody

Allen

Allen leaves MLB after an eight-year career during which he posted a 3.14 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, and 11.5 K/9 in 481 total appearances. He remains the Indians franchise record holder with 149 saves. The 32-year-old right-hander signed a minor league contract with the Cubs last July, but he never made an appearance for the club. He was released by Chicago in early September.

Allen signed with the Cubs in late July but never did get a shot. The former Cleveland closer posted a rough 6.26 ERA, 1.91 WHIP, and 29/20 K/BB ratio in 23 innings last season with the Angels.

Allen has been added to the team’s 60-man player pool and will report to their alternate training site. The former closer had been with the Rangers during summer camp but was released a week ago.

Allen was signed to a minor league contract back in February and was included on the team’s 60-man player pool, but he’s now been cut loose. John King is taking his spot.

Allen was signed to a minor league deal with an invitation to spring training in February, but was limited to just four appearances with an ERA of 11.25 in the Cactus League before the shutdown. Once an upper-echelon closer, Allen struggled the last two seasons, and posted an ugly 6.26 ERA in 25 games with the Angels before being released in June while getting his walking papers from the Twins a month later from the Twins without making an appearance. It’s unlikely Allen makes a fantasy impact in 2020 if/when the season begins, but he could get a chance to make the Texas bullpen to begin the delayed campaign.

He’ll make $1.3 million if on the major league roster, per Levi Weaver of The Athletic. Allen flamed out with the Angels last season and his velocity was reportedly down during a workout earlier this offseason. However, the Rangers have decided to take a shot on the former closer. The odds of him having any fantasy value are long.

Allen reportedly sat in the 89-90 mph range with his fastball during what was his first bullpen session of the offseason. The former closer is coming off an awful 2019 campaign that saw him post a 6.26 ERA over 25 appearances for the Angels before being released. He will undoubtedly have to settle for a minor league pact this winter.

Allen was signed by the Twins after he was released by the Angels, and while he put up decent numbers at the minor league level with a 2.25 ERA, it was clear that he wasn’t going to be a solution in the Minnesota bullpen. A former top closer, Allen will look to latch on with another team, but his days of fantasy relevance are very likely over.

Allen has made four scoreless one-inning relief appearances in High-A ball, striking out four batters without issuing a walk. If he pitches just as well at Triple-A, it won’t be long before he gets a look in Minnesota. The 30-year-old right-hander signed a minor league contract with the Twins on June 22, two days after getting released by the Angels. He had a 6.26 ERA in 23 innings with Anaheim.

It’s not a surprise to see Allen get another chance so soon, despite his brutal performance in 25 outings for the Angels. He’ll likely have to show that he can get consistent outs at the Triple-A level before the Twins give him a chance in the big leagues though. It’s a nice low-risk, potentially high-reward signing for one of the top teams in the American League.