SURPRISE, Ariz. — The Texas Rangers have narrowed their bullpen search with less than a week until opening day.
The Rangers granted right-handed pitcher Ryan Brasier, who was in camp on a minor league deal, his release Saturday afternoon. Brasier, 38, had a contract clause because of his service time that allowed him to opt out of the deal if he wasn’t going to land on the major league roster.
Brasier was a legitimate candidate and lasted until the last day of camp. He posted a 7.36 ERA in six Cactus League games, but his velocity had begun to climb, and Rangers manager Skip Schumaker even acknowledged Saturday morning that Brasier had been “trending the right way.”
The Rangers have effectively two bullpen jobs left to decide with right-handers Carter Baumler, Josh Sborz and Luis Curvelo in the mix. That number may shrink if left-hander Jacob Latz or right-hander Kumar Rocker starts the season in the bullpen or if one of their veteran non-roster right-handers (Austin Gomber and Cal Quantill) do.
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It becomes a question of priority from there. Baumler, a Rule 5 draftee, has been the best of the three in camp but hamstrings the Rangers because of his status. He must be offered back to the Baltimore Orioles if he isn’t kept on the roster for the entire season, and as optionality a priority early in the season, it’d behoove the Rangers to carry a pitcher who can be shuttled back and forth from the minor leagues. That’s why Curvelo, who has options left to burn, is an attractive option.
Sborz, a veteran right-hander in camp on a minor league deal, has raised his stock this camp with how quickly he’s been able to improve his fastball velocity when he struggled to find it last year after shoulder surgery. Sborz can’t opt out of his deal until the middle of April, though, and may be a candidate to start the year at Triple-A Round Rock so that he can continue to build up.
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