The Rangers added Jakob Junis on a one-year, $4 million deal Sunday, continuing their bullpen makeover after losing four relievers to free agency this winter.
The contract includes a mutual option for 2027, giving both sides flexibility down the road.
It’s been a busy offseason for Texas after Phil Maton, Hoby Milner, Shawn Armstrong and Jacob Webb all walked. They’ve already brought in Alexis Diaz, Tyler Alexander and Carter Baumler to fill those spots.
Now they’re getting a nine-year veteran who’s found his groove as a reliever. Junis posted a 2.97 ERA over 66 2/3 innings with Cleveland last season, going 4-1 in his first year without making a single start.
That’s a pretty significant shift for someone who spent four seasons in rotations with Kansas City, San Francisco and Cleveland. But the numbers don’t lie – Junis has been much better coming out of the bullpen.
He’s posted a sub-3.00 ERA over the past two seasons as a reliever, the only time he’s reached that mark in his career. Compare that to his overall 4.36 ERA across nearly 850 career innings, and it’s clear where he belongs.
According to Ken Rosenthan of The Athletic, Texas plans to use him in relief despite his starting background.
That makes sense given how well the transition worked in Cleveland. The Rangers need reliable arms for high-leverage situations, and Junis has shown he can handle that role.
With 46 career wins and experience across multiple organizations, he brings both durability and familiarity with pressure moments. The Rangers are betting that recent success translates to their bullpen as they try to build on last year’s foundation.
