Journeyman Texas Rangers reliever elects minor league free agency

Major League free agents don't hit the market until five days after the conclusion of the World Series, but eligible minor leaguers can already start electing free agency. To qualify for minor league free agency, a player must have been outrighted off his team’s 40-man roster during the 2025 season without being added back. He also must have more than one career outrights in his career, and/or at least three seasons of Major League service time.

Journeyman Texas Rangers reliever Carl Edwards Jr. elects minor league free agency

Carl Edwards Jr. elected minor league free agency after pitching three scoreless innings with four strikeouts, two walks and zero hits over two outings with the Rangers against the Houston Astros in mid-September. Texas designated him for assignment shortly after his appearances against Houston.

The Rangers signed Edwards to a minor league contract on July 22 after the journeyman reliever played with the Tigres de Quintana Roo of the Mexican League for a little over two months following a short stint with the Angels to begin the 2025 campaign. In two appearances for Los Angeles in late April, Edwards surrendered three earned runs on four hits (one home run) and one walk with two strikeouts across three innings.

Texas could always bring Edwards back on a new deal. Since the team is losing five major league relievers to free agency, the Rangers may as well take a flyer on Edwards if he is interested. Edwards likely hopes to find a major league deal, but it's unlikely that a team will offer him one. A team with as many bullpen uncertainties as the Rangers should be an enticing club for Edwards to join if both parties are interested, as the journeyman reliever would likely have a good shot at making the opening day roster if he performs well during Spring Training.

The 2025 season wasn't Edwards' first time being part of the Rangers organization, as he was drafted by the team in the 48th round of the 2011 MLB Draft. Texas dealt Edwards to the Chicago Cubs in 2013 as part of the Matt Garza trade. Edwards spent five seasons with the Cubs and was part of the 2016 World Series team. Since leaving Chicago, Edwards has played for the San Diego Padres, Washington Nationals, Toronto Blue Jays, Seattle Mariners, Atlanta Braves, Angels and Rangers.