Former Cubs Reliever Signs Minor-League Deal With Rangers

Ryan Tepera was one of three Chicago Cubs that received MVP votes when the team won the NL Central.

Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

A former Chicago Cubs reliever who got MVP votes in 2020 has signed a minor-league deal with the Texas Rangers.

Ryan Tepera, who played for the Cubs in 2020 and 2021, signed the deal and took an assignment to the Rangers’ Triple-A affiliate, the Round Rock Express. He pitched an inning of scoreless relief on Wednesday in his debut with the Express, giving up one hit.

In 2020, during the pandemic-shortened regular season, Tepera went 0-1 with a 3.92 ERA in 21 games for the Cubs. He pitched 20.2 innings, allowed nine runs, struck out 31 and walked 12. The Cubs won the National League Central and lost to Miami, 2-0, in the first round of the playoffs.

Tepera received one vote for National League MVP, one of three Cubs that earned at least one vote. Atlanta’s Freddie Freeman won the award.

He began this season with the Angels but ended up going 2-2 with a 7.27 ERA in 10 games and 8 2/3 innings. The Angels designated him for assignment on May 14 and released him on May 19.

Before this season, Tepera was a reliable bullpen option who has a 19-20 career record and a 3.59 ERA. He strikes out hitters at a rate of one per inning for his career.

Tepera, 35, was a 19th-round pick in the 2009 MLB Draft out of Sam Houston.

He broke in with the Blue Jays in 2015 and has played nine seasons in the Majors, including stints with the Chicago Cubs and the Chicago White Sox. He finished 18th in National League MVP voting with the Cubs in 2020, when he went 0-1 with a 3.92 ERA. 

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