Jason Vargas is a left-handed pitcher who has played for several Major League Baseball (MLB) teams throughout his career. He was born on February 2, 1983, in Apple Valley, California, and attended Apple Valley High School. Vargas played college baseball at Louisiana State University and Long Beach State University before being drafted by the Florida Marlins in the second round of the 2004 MLB draft.
Vargas made his MLB debut with the Marlins in 2005, but he only appeared in five games that season. He was traded to the New York Mets in 2007 and spent two seasons with the team before being traded to the Seattle Mariners in 2009. Vargas had a breakout season with the Mariners in 2012, posting a 14-11 record with a 3.85 earned run average (ERA) and 141 strikeouts in 217.1 innings pitched.
After spending one season with the Los Angeles Angels in 2013, Vargas signed with the Kansas City Royals in 2014. He had a solid season with the Royals in 2014, going 11-10 with a 3.71 ERA and 128 strikeouts in 187 innings pitched. Vargas had an even better season in 2017, going 18-11 with a 4.16 ERA and 134 strikeouts in 179.2 innings pitched. He was named an All-Star for the first time in his career that season.
Vargas signed with the New York Mets in 2018 and had a decent season, going 7-9 with a 5.77 ERA and 96 strikeouts in 92.2 innings pitched. He struggled in 2019, going 7-9 with a 4.51 ERA and 94 strikeouts in 94.2 innings pitched. Vargas was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies in July 2019, but he only made three starts for the team before being placed on the injured list with a left forearm strain.
Overall, Vargas has had a solid MLB career, posting a 99-95 record with a 4.26 ERA and 1,201 strikeouts in 1,636.2 innings pitched. He has been a reliable starting pitcher throughout his career, and he has shown the ability to pitch deep into games and keep his team in the game. While he may not be a superstar pitcher, Vargas has been a valuable asset to every team he has played for, and he has helped his teams win games and compete for championships.
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