Pedro

Payano

Payano received a brief cup of coffee with the Rangers back in 2019, posting a lackluster 5.73 ERA, 1.86 WHIP and 17/15 K/BB ratio across 22 innings (six appearances, four starts). The 27-year-old righty posted a serviceable 4.94 ERA, 1.41 WHIP and 117/68 K/BB ratio across 124 innings (25 appearances, 24 starts) between Double-A Erie and Triple-A Toledo in the Tigers’ system last year. He’ll bolster the Reds’ minor-league starting pitching depth entering the 2022 season.

Payano, 26, had a cup of coffee with the Rangers in 2019, posting a 5.73 ERA over 22 innings. He figures to begin 2021 as rotation depth at Triple-A Toledo.

Payano was signed to a minor league contract last December but never pitched his way up to the big club. He last pitched in 2019, registering a 5.73 ERA, 1.86 WHIP and 17/15 K/BB ratio in 22 innings of work as a member of the Rangers.

Payano spent a bit of time with the Rangers this past summer before getting pushed off their 40-man roster in September. The 25-year-old right-hander posted a 5.73 ERA, 1.86 WHIP, and 17/15 K/BB ratio in 22 innings -- four starts and two relief appearances. He’ll be organizational pitching depth for New York in 2020.

Payano was designated for assignment on Sunday and passed through waivers unclaimed. He had a 5.73 ERA and 17/15 K/BB ratio in 22 innings this year at the MLB level and also posted uninspiring numbers at Triple-A.

Payano didn’t embarrass himself in his first major league stint in July, going 1-2 with a 5.73 ERA in four starts and two relief appearances. He’s just 24 and he struck out a quarter of the batters he faced in the minors this year, so some team will take a flier on him.

A corresponding move will be made Friday. Payano took a beating in Thursday’s loss to Minnesota, surrendering five hits and eight runs (five earned) in just 3 1/3 innings. Given his lackluster 5.32 ERA and 17/15 K/BB ratio, demoting him was probably the right call.

Payano served up five hits, including a solo home run to Keston Hiura in the third inning. He also walked three batters and only recorded one strikeout. The 24-year-old righty has emerged as a key cog in the back-end of the Rangers starting rotation, but doesn’t miss enough bats to warrant fantasy consideration outside of deeper mixed leagues. He owns a 3.86 ERA, 1.71 WHIP and 14/12 K/BB ratio across 18 2/3 innings of work in five appearances (three starts) at the big-league level. He’s an extremely risky fantasy option and should be avoided in mixed leagues when he faces the Twins’ loaded lineup in his next start on Thursday.

Payano was fortunate to get by with just three runs allowed, as the Tigers knocked six hits and drew three walks over his 4 1/3 innings. He actually held them scoreless through his first three frames before they plated one after a pair of walks in the fourth inning and scored two more in the fifth before he was yanked. To his delight, the Rangers got those two runs back in the bottom of the inning to let him off the hook for the decision. He’s walked on the edge of disaster in each of his last two starts, as evidenced by his 3.45 ERA but 1.53 WHIP in 15 2/3 innings overall. The Brewers, a team capable of making him pay for so many baserunners, are up next for the 24-year-old on Saturday.

After pitching well in bulk relief his last time out against the Mariners, Payano was rewarded with a start in Sunday’s matchup with the A’s. He pitched decently well, allowing a lone run over his first five innings, before the A’s put the first two runners on in the sixth. Rangers manager Chris Woodward went to his bullpen at that point, a move that backfired when Jesse Chavez allowed both inherited runners to score. It was a sour end to another potentially positive day for the 24-year-old, who has a 3.18 ERA and 1.32 WHIP in his first 11 1/3 innings in the majors. Payano is an intriguing streaming option Sunday when the Rangers host the lowly Tigers in Arlington.