Joe Palumbo

29-Year-Old PitcherP
Texas Rangers AAA
2024 Fantasy Outlook
There was no outlook written for Joe Palumbo in 2024. Check out the latest news below for more on his current fantasy value.
$Signed a minor-league contract with the Rangers in February of 2023.
Rejoins Texas organization
PTexas Rangers  AAA
February 20, 2023
Palumbo agreed Monday with the Rangers on a minor-league contract, Levi Weaver of The Athletic reports.
ANALYSIS
The left-hander was spotted at camp Monday and is set to begin his second stint with the Texas organization. Texas drafted Palumbo back in 2013, and he spent the first eight professional seasons with the club, seeing big-league action in 2019 and 2020. Injuries have derailed the 28-year-old's career over the past couple of years, however, so the Rangers will likely be counting on him merely to fill some organizational pitching depth at Triple-A Round Rock in 2023.
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Recent RotoWire Articles Featuring Joe Palumbo See More
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Past Fantasy Outlooks
2021
2020
2019
2017
Palumbo saw limited time in the big leagues for the second straight season in 2020, pitching 2.1 innings over two appearances. Though he has yet to show he can get major-league hitters out, yielding a 9.47 ERA and 1.84 WHIP over 19 career frames, Palumbo has demonstrated good swing-and-miss stuff with a 27.4 K%. The left-hander has registered an 11.7 K/9 across 90 Double-A and Triple-A innings, so there's little doubt about his ability to rack up K's. However, to succeed he'll need to improve his control -- though the sample size is small, his 11.6 BB% as a big-leaguer is concerning since his walk rates have been inconsistent in the minors. Hard contact has also been an issue for Palumbo, as he has thus far allowed an ugly 3.79 HR/9. Armed with an above-average fastball and plus curve, Palumbo has the potential to be a solid mid-rotation starter, though he may first need to prove himself in the bullpen.
In a perfect world, Palumbo would have spent all of 2019 in the upper levels, and we would be eagerly awaiting the MLB debut of a 6-foot-1 southpaw with a plus fastball and a career 10.7 K/9 in the minors. Unfortunately, Texas quickly ran out of healthy, competent starters, and with Palumbo already on the 40-man roster, he was used as an emergency starter -- his first two MLB starts came before his first Triple-A start. He unsurprisingly got hit around early and often, although he still managed a well-above-average 25.9 K%. Fantasy managers are not a forgiving bunch, so while we shouldn't have expected this legitimate prospect with No. 3 starter upside to have initial success, his struggles have nonetheless taken all of the shine off. His curveball could be a second plus pitch and his changeup is a fine third pitch. If he improves his command slightly, he could still reach his mid-rotation ceiling.
What should have been a breakout 2017 campaign was axed when Palumbo required Tommy John surgery after just three starts. The 6-foot-1 southpaw dominated when he returned in late 2018, but it was so late in the season that few took proper notice. He logged a 2.48 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 44 strikeouts in 36.1 innings across stops at High-A and Double-A. Palumbo has borderline plus command, which allows his 93-95 mph fastball to easily work as a plus offering. He finishes hitters with a 60-grade curveball and also mixes in a 50-grade changeup. With good health, Palumbo should have no problem producing like a No. 3 starter, and he could even surpass that if his feel for his changeup improves. Durability concerns are legitimate, but given his stuff and proximity to the big leagues, Palumbo qualifies as a true sleeper in dynasty leagues. He could push to 100-110 innings this year, some of which may come in the majors.
A run of seven starts to close out the season morphed Palumbo from fringe prospect to stealth high-upside arm in the lower levels of the Rangers' system. He went five-plus innings in all seven starts and posted a 2.37 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and 39:10 K:BB in 38 innings after switching roles from closer to ace at Low-A. A slender 6-foot-1, Palumbo does not cut the figure of a traditional starter, which is perhaps why he began his professional career as a reliever and continued in that role for his first 26 appearances in 2016. However, he has a mid-90s fastball, a plus curveball and developing changeup, so his repertoire may be able to consistently turn over a lineup. Palumbo, a 30th-round selection in 2013, cut his walk rate from 14.3 percent in 2015 to 9.1 percent last year, which strengthens the notion that he could make it as a starter with continued refinement. He won't be under the radar much longer if his success as a starter continues at High-A High Desert.
More Fantasy News
Searching for new organization
PFree Agent  AAA
July 5, 2022
The Giants released Palumbo from his minor-league contract Monday.
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Set to pitch Sunday
PSan Francisco Giants  AAA
March 19, 2022
Palumbo (undisclosed) is set to pitch in Sunday's Cactus League game versus the Reds, Maria I. Guardado of MLB.com reports.
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Rejoins Giants
PSan Francisco Giants  AAA
Undisclosed
January 13, 2022
Palumbo (undisclosed) signed a minor-league contract with the Giants on Thursday, Chris Hilburn-Trenkle of Baseball America reports.
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Let go by Giants
PFree Agent  AAA
Undisclosed
November 30, 2021
Palumbo (undisclosed) was non-tendered by the Giants on Tuesday, Kerry Crowley of The San Jose Mercury News reports.
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Grabbed by Giants
PSan Francisco Giants  AAA
Undisclosed
November 5, 2021
Palumbo (undisclosed) was claimed off waivers by the Giants on Friday.
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Latest Fantasy Rumors
MLB debut possibly on tap
PTexas Rangers  AAA
June 5, 2019
Palumbo is a candidate to make his MLB debut in Saturday's doubleheader against Oakland, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.
ANALYSIS
A highly-regarded prospect in the Texas farm system, Palumbo sports a 3.38 ERA and 1.28 WHIP over 50.2 innings at the Double-A level this season. He's not yet a lock to start, as Double-A teammate Jonathan Hernandez was mentioned in the report as well. Regardless of who gets the call, the assignment is expected to only consist of Saturday's spot start.
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