Former Mets, Phillies submarine reliever to sign free agent deal with Rangers

The Texas Rangers haven't been the big spenders like other teams around Major League Baseball have been this offseason, but that hasn't stopped them from making many roster moves this offseason.

Some of the more under-the-radar roster moves during the offseason might end up being very important ones come the regular season. The most recent Rangers signing might be just that.

According to ESPN's Jeff Passan, the Rangers are in agreement on a one-year contract with a former New York Mets and Philadelphia Phillies reliever who is a rare submarine pitcher.

Rangers to sign submarine righty on one-year deal

"Right-handed submariners Josh Hekja and the Texas Rangers are in agreement on a minor league contract, a source tells ESPN," Passan reports.

Hekja is a righty reliever who is 28 years old and has spent his career with the Mets and the Phillies. Though he has not made his MLB debut in his five-year professional career, he's shown an interesting ability as a submarine reliever.

A funky deliver liek the one Hekja has could help him get batters out. But, in his professional career, the righty has appeared in 153 games, posting a 4.06 ERA with an 11-8 record and 199 strikeouts and 68 walks in 221.2 innings pitched.

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He's not been the best, nor the worst, reliever. But, Hekja, this past season for the Phillies has the worst year of his professional career.

Hekja had a 6.28 ERA in 27 games for the Phillies in the minor leagues between High-A and Double-A. Oddly enough, he was much better at Double-A, posting a 3.52 ERA in six games compared to a 7.29 ERA in 21 games at Single-A.

The former Mets and Phillies righty reliever prospect has shown promise at times in his minor league career, and is someone worth taking a flier on from the Rangers' perspective.

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