Rangers have acquired two battery mates from division rival

Texas Rangers have acquired two battery mates (catcher Willie MacIver and relief pitcher Michel Otanez) from the division rival Athletics

The Rangers have been busy on the waiver wire in the last few days. On Wednesday, the team claimed former Las Vegas Athletics catcher Willie MacIver and relief pitcher Michel Otanez after they were waived.

OFs Dustin Harris and Billy McKinney have cleared waivers and are now free agents.

Both players come to Arlington having spent most of their careers in the minor leagues before making the jump to the big leagues in 2024 and 2025.

It is unclear where the Rangers will assign their newest additions

Drafted by the Colorado Rockies in the 9th round of the 2018 MLB June Amateur Draft out of the University of Washington, MacIver is primarily a catcher, but has also played some third base and left field during his career.

The Rangers needed to add a body to their thin catching corps. It is not yet clear where MacIver will start the 2026 season, as the organization still plans to make several more moves over the winter.

Otanez made his professional debut in 2016 in the New York Mets minor league system. The right-hander made it to the show with the A's in 2024.

Similarly, Otanez will be part of the fluid bullpen rebuild and will look to nail down a spot at the major league level throughout spring training.

Both players have little major league experience

MacIver is a defense-first backstop who carries a .263 career average and 73 home runs over seven minor league seasons with the Rockies and A's. In his brief time in the majors, which came in 2025, he has hit .186 with 3 HRs over 111 at-bats.

At 6'4", 218 pounds, the right-handed Otanez made it to the show with the A's in 2024. Over parts of two seasons, he has notched a 4.81 ERA over 39 innings pitched out of the bullpen. Otanez throws hard and fanned 61 hitters in that span.

Both players enter the fray looking to continue their upward trajectory over the past several seasons.