Texas signs two-time World Series champion

The Texas Rangers finalized minor league agreement with veteran right-hander Ryan Brassier, MassLive.com’s Chris Cotillo reported Friday. The deal includes a non-roster invitation to Major League spring training, according to Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News, allowing Brassier to compete for a spot on the Opening Day roster.

Brassier, 38, joins the Rangers after spending the 2025 season with the Chicago Cubs. His stint in Chicago never panned out, as a left groin landed him on the injured list twice and limited him to 28 appearances and 26 innings. When available, Brassier posted a 4.50 ERA, struck out 20 batters and drew five walks. Advanced metrics tell a rosier story, including a 3.17 Fielding Independent Pitching (FIP), a 3.74 SIERA, a 30.5% slugging rate and a low 6.3% barrel rate. Opponents hit a .321 batting average, notably above the league average and Brassier’s career norm.

Over nine seasons in the Major Leagues, Brassier made 325 appearances with a 3.90 career ERA. He played for the Los Angeles Angels, Boston Red Sox, Los Angeles Dodgers, Cubs, and now he returns to Texas, where he was born and raised. Brassier, a Wichita Falls native, attended Weatherford College, located about 40 miles from Arlington and Globe Life Field, making this signing a homecoming late in his career.

Brassier brings championship pedigree to Rangers camp. The leadoff hitter in the Red Sox’ 2018 World Series title, he gave up just one earned run in 8⅔ innings in the playoffs after a 1.60 ERA in 33⅔ innings in the regular season. He won his second championship ring with the Dodgers in 2024, posting a 1.89 ERA over 66⅔ combined innings in 2023–24. Brassier appeared in the opener twice in the 2024 playoffs, throwing an elimination game and allowing five earned runs in nine total innings.

Injuries have affected Brassier in recent seasons. He only pitched 28 innings for Los Angeles in 2024 due to a strained right calf, but still posted a 3.54 ERA with a 22.7% strikeout rate and a 4.5% walk rate. Over his last three seasons combined, excluding a difficult 2022 campaign, Brassier has produced a 3.48 ERA, 22.3% strikeout rate, 6.4% walk rate, two saves and 20 shutouts in 113 2/3 innings while limiting home runs to 0.63 per nine innings.

The Rangers went after Brasier, who has 10 career saves, in the midst of an extensive bullpen rebuild. Texas lost Hobie Milner, Phil Matton, Sean Armstrong, Jacob Webb and Danny Cullom to free agency. The club signed veterans Chris Martin, Alexis Diaz, Tyler Alexander and Jakob Junis to major league contracts, added Josh Sborz and Brazier to minor league deals and acquired Carter Baumler in the Rule 5 draft. The Rangers had a 3.62 bullpen ERA last season but went just 37 of 66 save opportunities, revealing a need for more consistent pitching late in the season. inning