Rangers early closer decision signals two-horse race, one more in mix

When the Rangers decided against going out and getting a proven closer for the 2026 season, it was clear that they were setting the stage for an open competition for the coveted high-leverage role.

It didn't take long to discover who the frontrunners were, as a decision has already been made regarding who has the inside track as pitchers and catchers arrived in Surprise this week.

A somewhat surprising decision has been made regarding the closer role

Early indication from new manager Skip Schumaker is that it will be a two-man race between lefty Robert Garcia and right-hander Chris Martin, who will be given the first shot at closing out games to start the season.

The team will also use spring training to evaluate newcomer Alexis Diaz, who missed most of 2025 with injuries. They want to see how he looks in game action before bumping him up into contender status.

Garcia and Martin both had some success as the closer last season

Both Garcia and Martin saw time as the Rangers' closer last season.

Garcia, a hard-throwing lefty, saw extended time registering nine saves in May, June and July but lost the role in August following several blown opportunities, finishing the season with seven blown saves.

Martin will turn 40 on June 2, notched two saves of his own but suffered a number of mysterious injuries that caused him to be pulled from games mid-outing. When healthy, both as a setup man and as a closer, Martin registered a solid 2.98 ERA with 43 strikeouts in 42.1 innings pitched.

Schumaker and lead pitching Jordan Tiegs also want to see what Diaz has to offer, as he is the only proven closer on the roster. He collected 75 saves from 2022 to 2024, but hasn't collected one since 2024, and pitched only briefly with three separate teams last year.

As many expected, the Rangers are taking a similar approach to the position as they did in 2025. Hopefully Garcia, Martin or even Diaz will provide some stability at the end of games to match the elite starting staff headed up by Jacob deGrom and Nathan Eovaldi.