Reliever reunion could open door for Rangers to bring back more familiar free agents

With the Texas Rangers reuniting (again) with Chris Martin on a one-year deal for the 2026, it could indicate that the organization is finding ways to run it back with a number of relievers from last season's bullpen success.

Despite Phil Maton and Hoby Milner's departure elsewhere, Texas still has familiar options eyeing a return including Shawn Armstrong, Danny Coulombe and Josh Sborz.

When coupled with Martin, Robert Garcia, Cole Winn, Jacob Latz and a hopefully two of their most recent reformation projects and a high potential Rule 5 addition, the bullpen could complement each other well.

Martin's deal is step one of reuniting last year's successful bullpen for 2026

Martin, 39, is coming off a season that saw multiple IL stints. First it was a calf strain, then shoulder fatigue and the final blow was thoracic outlet syndrome which ended his season in September. He was still a reliable option for the Rangers, posting a 2.98 ERA with 43 strikeouts and eight walks and a 35% chase rate in 42.1 innings of work.

Examining the Rangers 40-man roster right now, there are several names on a list to be bullpen contributors next season but a handful of those are truly unproven. Names like Marc Church, Emiliano Teodo, Jose Corniell and Luis Curvelo.

Given that, Texas has five to six options already mostly locked down for next year: Tyler Alexander, Alexis Diaz, Robert Garcia, Jacob Latz, Cole Winn and maybe Kumar Rocker.

What could help is bringing back more of the 2025 Rangers bullpen. A bullpen corps that held the fifth best ERA (3.62), third best WHIP (1.23) and gave up the sixth least runs in Major League Baseball across 581.1 innings of work.

Garcia is perhaps the best locked-down arm, holding the team's second best reliever ERA in 2025 just behind a hopeful returner in Armstrong. Martin recorded the bullpen's fifth best ERA and was one of five arms to have a sub 3.00 ERA in at least 30 games.

It has already been reported that Armstrong, coming off one of the best seasons of his career, once to find a way back to Arlington for a multi-year deal. The Rangers have also said they would welcome back Josh Sborz, the team's 2023 playoff savior, who was non-tendered and released in November.

If Texas was even able to reunite with Armstrong and Sborz build a solid late-inning core with those two, Garcia and Martin then that is lethal. Hopefully at the same time Jordan Tiegs can show what he's made of and get Diaz and Alexander back to their former self, it adds more complementary weapons.