What to know about this under-the-radar Rangers' reliever

Sometimes the most impactful moves are those that initially do not receive a great deal of media attention or fanfare. While the jury is obviously still out on the Texas Rangers' most recent choice, it is certainly worth looking at what he could bring to the table.

Earlier this week, the Rangers re-signed reliever Codi Heuer to a minor league deal. Casual fans may not have even known that Heuer was even in the organization since he has not made an appearance with the big league club. But, the righty has an interesting repertoire that could pay dividends.

The former sixth-round pick signed with the Rangers on a minor league deal after being non-tendered by the Cubs last offseason, but has not made it to Arlington quite yet. He has dealt with two injuries that have kept him from being an active player.

Even though the Missoula native has only pitched 12.2 innings over the past three years, his time with the Chicago White Sox and Chicago Cubs should encourage fans that Texas might have found a low-risk, high-reward investment.

What to know about this under-the-radar Rangers' reliever

After being traded crosstown in 2021, Heuer posted a 3.14 ERA across 28.2 innings as a member of the Cubs. On the year, he ranked in the 90th percentile in Offspeed Run Value, the 83rd percentile in Chase%, and the 93rd percentile in Barrel%.

These marks are quite impressive. They illustrate what Heuer can provide if he is healthy enough to pitch. Given the Rangers are currently attempting to construct their bullpen, the 28-year-old would be a welcome addition.

It is possible (and likely) that Kirby Yates, Jose Leclerc, and David Robertson will all join other clubs this winter. With Texas attempting to stay under the luxury threshold, they will have to address areas of concern without spending big.

Re-signing someone like Heuer provides the Rangers with an interesting amount of possibilities. At a bare minimum, they'e adding an individual who could be a surprising talent.

It is not known if such an addition signals that the front office would be content to exclusively add financially friendly arms, but this is worth monitoring.