Jacob Webb's release makes no sense given the state of the Rangers' bullpen

It was a short lived one season for Jacob Webb and the Texas Rangers following the right hander's contract not being tendered by the Friday deadline.

Alongside Adolis Garcia, Jonah Heim and Josh Sborz, Webb now enters the free agent market this winter. It was a clearing of house in Arlington as the shift away from the 2023 World Series era continues to get layers deeper.

This still doesn't make sense for the Rangers to do. Despite his ups and downs, Webb could have provided quality innings for Texas's bullpen in 2026.

Current state of Rangers' bullpen is no time to mess around

Signed by the Rangers last offseason to a one-year deal after being non-tendered by the Orioles, Webb appeared in 55 games for Texas to the tune of a 3.00 ERA, 58 strikeouts, 19 walks and a1.03 WHIP in 66 innings of work.

The 32-year-old California native was in his third year of arbitration going into 2026 and was set to make around $2.5 million, which is roughly what he is likely to make on the open market this winter.

I know they are trying to cut payroll but didn't think Texas would get picky enough to part ways with a 3.00 ERA reliever to save $2.5 million.

The bullpen needs a complete overhaul for the second straight season. When the World Series came to an end, five of the Rangers six best arms hit the free agent market with the addition of Webb on Friday being their sixth regularly used pen arm gone.

Right now, the Rangers bullpen is full of little to no big league experience arms. The biggest arms they have on the payroll are lefty Robert Garcia and righty Cole Winn.Texas will then mix-and-match rookie arms likes Luis Curvelo, Jose Corniell, Emiliano Teodo and Marc Church to fill out the rest.

The free agent relief market isn't slim by any means but not tendering a cheap contract to Webb is a bit shocking. It's not a worry about whether Texas will enter spring training next season, it is a worry that will replace them with one-year low-level talents and just coast for yet another year with a mediocre bullpen.