Rangers to Sign Tigers Reliever

The Texas Rangers continue to look for bullpen pieces closing in on spring training in Arizona.

The Texas Rangers have reportedly agreed to a minor-league deal with right-hander Kyle Funkhouser, according to FanSided.com on Thursday.

The Rangers have not officially announced the deal.

The report came the same day the Rangers introduced starting pitcher Nathan Eovaldi to the local media at Globe Life Field.

Funkhouser spent 2020 and 2021 with the Detroit Tigers, where he finished with an 8-5 record in 70 appearances, with just two starts. He had a 4.20 ERA.

The Tigers drafted Funkhouser in the fourth round of the 2016 MLB Draft out of Louisville.

He could be another piece the Rangers could look at for their bullpen, but it’s not clear if he will be ready for spring training.

Funkhouser spent the 2022 season on the injured list, first the 10-day injured list and later the 60-day injured list with what was initially called a right shoulder strain. He later had surgery that ended his season. The Tigers non-tendered him in November, allowing him to hit free agency.

The Rangers bullpen has seen a bit of churn since the end of the season.

Texas sent Kolby Allard to Atlanta as part of the Jake Odorizzi deal and traded Dennis Santana for cash considerations. The Rangers optioned Jesus Tinoco to Triple-A Round Rock and he later signed with the Saitama Seibu Lions of Nippon Professional Baseball. The Rangers also declined to tender Nick Snyder a contract, but eventually re-signed him. The Rangers designated A.J. Alexy for assignment and lost him to Washington. They also signed Nick Mears from Pittsburgh, but eventually released him to make room on the 40-man roster.

The Rangers’ only free-agent bullpen piece is left-hander Matt Moore, and management has been bearish on its ability to re-sign him for 2023.

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