Texas Rangers add veteran right-hander Jakob Junis as bullpen turnover continues across the roster

The Texas Rangers are clear about what they want to improve. Their offseason efforts have centered on the bullpen, and Jakob Junis is the newest addition to this ongoing transformation. Texas believes that his recent shift in role has made him a more trustworthy option, leading the front office to act quickly to secure him.

This isn’t just a one-time signing; it’s part of a larger initiative to reshape a relief team that has struggled to maintain leads and has shown inconsistency. Junis enters a bullpen that is still uncertain, with various roles still available and no definite stability in late-game scenarios. The Rangers appreciate experience, versatility, and control, and this signing fulfills those needs. While the deal itself is straightforward, the timing is noteworthy.

Jakob Junis set to pitch as a reliever for the Texas Rangers after first bullpen-only season

The Rangers have inked right-hander Jakob Junis to a one-year, $4 million deal, as reported by The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal. This will be made official once Texas adjusts its 40-man roster accordingly.

Junis is represented by the Wasserman Agency. In a follow-up note, Rosenthal mentions that Texas plans to utilize Junis as a reliever, following Junis’ first season exclusively in the bullpen during his nine-year MLB career.

A source told ESPN on Sunday that the Texas Rangers are signing right-handed reliever Jakob Junis to a one-year, $4 million contract. The Rangers are strengthening their bullpen with Jakob Junis, who has accepted a one-year, $4 million deal, according to a source speaking to ESPN.


The team has agreed to a one-year contract with right-handed pitcher Jakob Junis. He might serve as an additional seasoned bullpen choice for the Rangers in 2026.

Chris Martin re-signed by the Texas Rangers to provide experience in high-leverage setup situations

Junis is among the many relievers who have joined the Rangers bullpen, which has seen quite a bit of change over the past two years, alongside players like Alexis Díaz, Tyler Alexander, Carter Baumler, Zak Kent, and Chris Martin.

Chris Young, the president of baseball operations, tackled the team's weaknesses by bringing in Tyler Alexander, Alexis Díaz, Chris Martin, and Carter Baumler to strengthen the bullpen. Robert Garcia is back after tying for the team lead with nine saves in 2025, even though he had some ups and downs in the closer position.

Texas also picked up Zak Kent from St. Louis and signed Patrick Murphy to minor-league contracts. The Rangers are still looking into more relief options they might want to pursue before camp kicks off.

They went out and signed Alexis Diaz to a one-year contract and also re-signed Chris Martin for another year. Diaz is expected to be the club's new closer, while Martin will take on the role of set-up man, but there's no guarantee that Diaz will succeed.

They brought on Alexis Díaz with a one-year contract, hoping for a comeback, and re-signed veteran Chris Martin to provide stability in crucial situations. Díaz is currently the likely choice to close games, while Martin will take on a setup role. However, neither of these decisions ensures consistency. Díaz had a tough time in 2025, moving between teams and failing to find his old self, while Martin is more of a reliable bridge than a genuine closer.

Up to now, they’ve brought in Tyler Alexander, Alexis Díaz, Chris Martin, and Carter Baumler (through Rule 5/trade). However, the Rangers also converted 37 out of 66 save chances in 2025, which was a major weakness for an otherwise solid bullpen (3.62 ERA). Both Martin and Díaz have experience as closers, along with Robert Garcia -- one of the few players remaining from last year.

He mentioned lefty Robert Garcia (who notched nine saves last year before getting demoted from the closer position midseason), righty Chris Martin (who was brought back after a solid season as a setup guy was cut short by injuries), and the newly signed righty Alexis Díaz as potential options.

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