Rangers standby as one of their former All-Star relievers joins divisional foe

While it was only one season for Kirby Yates in Arlington, it was a special one as the righty made his first All-Star Game since 2019 and compiled 33 saves in 34 chances. Now, the 38-year-old is reportedy returning to the AL West with the Los Angeles Angels.

Agreeing to a one-year deal worth $5 million, Yates will add an extra level of security to the backend of an Angels' bullpen that signed Jordan Romano earlier this offseason. He will also be reuniting with his former pitching coach, Mike Maddux.

All while that has happened, the Texas Rangers have stood by and watched old relievers sign cheaper deals and opted to go even cheaper with reclamation projects and minor league contracts that barely move the needle.

Yates could have been another answer for Rangers' rebuild depsite 2025 numbers

It wasn't the smoothest season for Yates with the Dodgers last year but it still is on par with the relief arms they've signed this winter.

In 50 games with LA, Yates compiled a 5.23 ERA, 52 strikeouts, 17 walks, 1.33 WHIP and three saves in just over 41 innings of work. He wasn't included in any of the Dodgers' three playoff series that led to a World Series championship.

That sounds bad but let's compare it to the two biggest arms the Rangers added this offseason. Alexander in 61 innings had a 4.98 ERA with similar strikeout and walk numbers while the 28-year-old Diaz only appeared in 18 games across three teams to the tune of an 8.15 ERA.

Rangers' bullpen plan is a never-ending question mark

From the moment the offseason began, the biggest question was how the Rangers were going to rebuild their bullpen for the second consecutive offseason. Here we are about to enter the new year and that is still one of the unknowns.

Not because they haven't signed anyone, but because of who've they signed. The Rangers biggest relief acquisitions were a reunion with 38-year-old Chris Martin and one-year deals with Tyler Alexander and Alexis Diaz.

Rest of the fillers have been minor league deals and one Rule 5 Draft addition. In the meantime, they've seen a trio of arms head to the North Side of Chicago and their best reliever last season go to Cleveland on a cheap $5 million deal.

It is looking increasingly likely that Texas will go into 2026 with maybe one or two additional free agent reliever adds, one might include a small million dollar deal to Josh Sborz and another minor league deal. That leaves a lot unanswered next season for a bullpen that was one of the best in Major League Baseball.