RockieBill
01-19-2002, 07:15 PM
Phoenix, AZ (Sports Network) - The 2001 world champion Arizona Diamondbacks bolstered their already strong starting pitching corps Saturday by signing free agent righthander Rick Helling to a one-year contract that includes a mutual option for a second year. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
The 31-year-old Helling was 12-11 with a 5.17 ERA in 34 starts last year for the Texas Rangers, with whom he had spent the past four-plus seasons. He has logged at least 200 innings and won at least 10 games in each of the last four campaigns.
"Rick has been one of the most durable pitchers in the game over the last four seasons and is a good fit to our starting rotation," said Diamondbacks vice president and general manager Joe Garagiola Jr. "This is the type of signing that works two-fold for our club, adding a pitcher who takes the ball every five days and works deep into the game, which in turn strengthens the depth in the bullpen."
Since 1998, Helling has made 137 starts, most in the American League and third most in the majors (138 by Atlanta's Tom Glavine and Arizona's Randy Johnson). Helling has made 145 consecutive starts without missing a turn since joining the Rangers' rotation on August 18, 1997.
Helling owns a 72-58 record in 201 career games, including 171 starts, for Texas and the Florida Marlins over parts of eight seasons. He was a 20-game winner for Texas, with a 20-7 mark in 1998.
Originally drafted by the Rangers in the first round (22nd overall) of the 1992 June free agent draft, Helling was traded to the Florida Marlins in 1996. Less than a year later, Texas reacquired him via trade.
The 31-year-old Helling was 12-11 with a 5.17 ERA in 34 starts last year for the Texas Rangers, with whom he had spent the past four-plus seasons. He has logged at least 200 innings and won at least 10 games in each of the last four campaigns.
"Rick has been one of the most durable pitchers in the game over the last four seasons and is a good fit to our starting rotation," said Diamondbacks vice president and general manager Joe Garagiola Jr. "This is the type of signing that works two-fold for our club, adding a pitcher who takes the ball every five days and works deep into the game, which in turn strengthens the depth in the bullpen."
Since 1998, Helling has made 137 starts, most in the American League and third most in the majors (138 by Atlanta's Tom Glavine and Arizona's Randy Johnson). Helling has made 145 consecutive starts without missing a turn since joining the Rangers' rotation on August 18, 1997.
Helling owns a 72-58 record in 201 career games, including 171 starts, for Texas and the Florida Marlins over parts of eight seasons. He was a 20-game winner for Texas, with a 20-7 mark in 1998.
Originally drafted by the Rangers in the first round (22nd overall) of the 1992 June free agent draft, Helling was traded to the Florida Marlins in 1996. Less than a year later, Texas reacquired him via trade.