The Texas Rangers added right-handed pitching depth Tuesday, signing veteran reliever Jakob Junis to a one-year, $4 million contract.
Rangers Bolster Bullpen with Junis, Sborz
Texas continues to reshape its relief corps with a mix of proven arms and potential.
- Jakob Junis, 33, agreed to a one-year, $4 million deal with the Rangers.
- Junis excelled with the Cleveland Guardians in 2023, posting a 2.97 ERA in 57 appearances.
- Texas also signed 2023 World Series reliever Josh Sborz to a minor league contract.
- The Rangers have significantly revamped their bullpen in the past two seasons.
Junis’ ability to consistently throw strikes and limit hard contact made him an attractive option for the Rangers as they look to solidify the back end of their bullpen. The 33-year-old pitched exclusively out of the bullpen for the Cleveland Guardians last season, delivering a stellar 2.97 ERA across 57 appearances. He struck out 55 batters while walking just 18 in 66⅔ innings.
From Starter to Reliable Reliever
Originally developed as a starting pitcher with the Kansas City Royals, Junis has demonstrated versatility throughout his nine-year career. He remains capable of pitching multiple innings, a valuable asset for any bullpen. Over 847 career innings, he has maintained a 4.36 ERA and limited walks to just six percent of batters faced.
The Rangers also announced the signing of Josh Sborz, a reliever who contributed to the 2023 World Series champion team, to a minor league contract on Tuesday.
Junis joins a Rangers bullpen that has seen considerable turnover in recent years. He’ll pitch alongside Alex Diaz, Tyler Alexander, Carter Baumler, Zak Kent, and Chris Martin, who returned on a similar one-year, $4 million deal. The Rangers are clearly prioritizing bullpen depth as they prepare for the upcoming season.
The Athletic initially reported Junis’ agreement with the Rangers.
