Ryan Brasier has had a Major League Baseball career full of ups and downs, and he’s looking to prove this year that he can still be a productive member of a contending team’s bullpen.
Brasier a two-time World Series champion with the Boston Red Sox in 2018 and the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2024, spent last season mostly on the injured list with the Chicago Cubs. He was still reasonably effective when healthy, however, and entering his age-38 season, he’ll be joining his hometown team.
According to a Friday report from MassLive’s Chris Cotillo, Brasier and the Texas Rangers were in the process of finalizing a contract. Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News reported that Brasier’s was a minor-league deal with a non-roster invite to spring training.
Brasier, who hails from Wichita Falls, Texas, has made 325 appearances in the majors and pitched to a 3.90 ERA. That hardly begins to describe his peaks and valleys, though; he had an ERA over six in his last season and a half with the Red Sox, then posted a 1.89 ERA from 2023 to 2024 in 68 appearances for the Dodgers.
Brasier played a key role on both World Series teams he pitched for. In the 2018 playoffs, he allowed just one earned run in 8 2/3 innings. In 2024, he served as the opener for two games, including an elimination game that the Dodgers won via shutout against the San Diego Padres, and allowed five earned runs over eight appearances and nine total innings.
With Chicago last season, Brasier dealt with a groin strain that put him on the injured list twice, and finished the year with a 4.50 ERA and 3.17 FIP in 28 appearances.
The Texas bullpen seemed ripe for reinforcements, so although there’s bound to be competition in spring training, Brasier would seem to have a strong opportunity to lock down a role if he stays healthy.
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