The Texas Rangers have reportedly reached an agreement with left-handed relief pitcher Jalen Beeks on a major league contract, according to Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News. The deal is not yet officially finalized, as it still depends on Beeks successfully completing a physical examination. Once the contract becomes official, the Rangers will need to make room for him on their 40-man roster. Beeks is represented by the agency Frontline.
This signing comes relatively late in the offseason, with the regular season just about two weeks away. Even so, Beeks has managed to secure a guaranteed major league contract, which indicates that the Rangers see potential value in adding him to their bullpen. Veteran relievers sometimes have to wait until the final stretch of spring training before finding a team willing to offer a roster spot, and Beeks appears to have landed in a situation where he could contribute fairly quickly.
During the 2025 Major League Baseball season, Beeks pitched for the Arizona Diamondbacks. He joined that club on a modest one-year deal worth $1.25 million. Over the course of the season, the left-hander made 61 appearances out of the bullpen, accumulating 57â…“ innings of work. Across those outings, he posted a 3.77 earned run average, which represents a solid, though not elite, performance for a middle-relief pitcher.
There is a strong possibility that the Diamondbacks would have explored trading Beeks before the deadline had circumstances unfolded differently. At that point in the season, veteran relievers with respectable numbers are often attractive targets for teams looking to strengthen their bullpens ahead of a playoff push. However, Beeks spent roughly three weeks on the injured list in July due to inflammation in his lower back. That injury disrupted his availability during a crucial stretch of the season and may have reduced the likelihood of Arizona moving him in a midseason deal.
By the time the season wrapped up, Beeks had become one of the few experienced veterans remaining in the Diamondbacks’ bullpen. Arizona’s relief corps went through multiple changes throughout the year, leaving Beeks as one of the more established options during the final weeks of the campaign. He closed the season on a strong note, allowing only four runs over his final 16⅓ innings of work. That late surge helped reinforce the perception that he could still be an effective contributor out of the bullpen.
Looking deeper into the numbers, Beeks’ performance metrics suggest a pitcher who was generally average across several statistical categories. His strikeout rate sat at 20.3 percent, which is slightly below the league average for relievers. He did not generate strikeouts at an elite level, but he still managed to miss bats often enough to remain effective in short outings. His walk rate and ground-ball rate were respectable, though neither stood out as exceptional. Overall, his statistical profile indicates a pitcher who relies more on consistency and command rather than overpowering stuff.
One characteristic that differentiates Beeks from many other left-handed relievers is his pitch mix. Traditional lefty specialists often rely heavily on breaking balls—such as sliders or sweeping curveballs—to neutralize left-handed hitters. Beeks, however, does not lean heavily on that type of pitch. His cutter, which functions somewhat like a breaking ball, was used only around ten percent of the time during the 2025 season.
Instead, Beeks primarily works with a fastball that typically sits in the 94–95 mile-per-hour range. This velocity is solid for a reliever and gives him a reliable pitch to challenge hitters. Complementing the fastball is his changeup, which sits in the upper 80s. The changeup is widely considered his most effective swing-and-miss offering. Because of this pitch combination, Beeks does not fit neatly into the category of a traditional situational lefty.
The nature of his arsenal has another important effect: it reduces the dramatic platoon splits that many left-handed relievers experience. Specialists who rely heavily on breaking balls often struggle against hitters of the opposite handedness. Beeks, on the other hand, showed fairly balanced results against both left-handed and right-handed batters during the 2025 season.
Against left-handed hitters, opponents produced a slash line of .218/.266/.345. Interestingly, right-handed batters posted a somewhat similar line of .190/.285/.339. These numbers indicate that Beeks was able to remain competitive regardless of the hitter’s handedness. That said, his strikeout rate was noticeably higher when he faced left-handed hitters, meaning he still enjoyed some advantage in those matchups.
Now that he has joined the Rangers organization, Beeks will have only a short window to prepare for the upcoming season. With Opening Day approaching rapidly, he will likely need to ramp up quickly to be game-ready. Fortunately, experienced relievers often adapt quickly in these situations, especially if they have already been throwing during spring training.
The Rangers’ bullpen appears likely to undergo another patchwork construction similar to what the team dealt with the previous year. Injuries, roster adjustments, and fluctuating performance have made it difficult for the club to maintain a stable relief corps. As a result, Texas is once again assembling a bullpen from a mix of established veterans, newcomers, and pitchers transitioning into different roles.
At the moment, Robert Garcia stands out as the Rangers’ primary high-leverage left-handed reliever. Garcia is expected to handle some of the most important late-inning situations, and he could even receive opportunities to close games depending on how the bullpen hierarchy develops. If he performs well early in the season, he might emerge as one of the club’s most trusted relief options.
Tyler Alexander is expected to take on a different responsibility. Rather than operating as a traditional one-inning reliever, Alexander will likely fill a long-relief role. Pitchers in this position are often called upon when a starting pitcher exits early or when a game stretches into extra innings. Alexander’s ability to pitch multiple innings gives the Rangers additional flexibility when managing their pitching staff.
Although Beeks is not considered a pure specialist, he should still be capable of handling matchups against left-handed hitters during the middle innings. His balanced pitch repertoire allows him to stay in the game even when opposing managers send right-handed hitters to the plate, making him a versatile piece within the bullpen structure.
Looking ahead to Opening Day, several pitchers appear almost certain to secure spots in the Rangers’ bullpen. Robert Garcia, Chris Martin, Cole Winn, Jakob Junis, Jalen Beeks, and Tyler Alexander all seem to be strong candidates to make the initial roster. Each pitcher brings a different skill set, which collectively provides the team with multiple bullpen configurations.
Another intriguing name in the bullpen picture is Alexis DÃaz, the former closer for the Cincinnati Reds. DÃaz recently signed a one-year contract with Texas, but his spring training performance has been concerning. In a very small sample size of just 1â…” innings, he has allowed eight runs, raising questions about his readiness for the regular season.
Fortunately for the Rangers, DÃaz still has minor league options remaining. That means the team could send him to Triple-A to regain his form without exposing him to waivers. Given his difficult spring performance, it appears likely that he will begin the season in the minors while working to refine his mechanics and regain confidence.
Another player worth monitoring is Carter Baumler, a pitcher selected in the Rule 5 Draft. Players chosen in the Rule 5 process must remain on the major league roster for the entire season or else be placed on waivers and offered back to their original organization. In Baumler’s case, that organization would be the Baltimore Orioles.
So far this spring, Baumler has performed fairly well. Through 5⅔ innings of work, he has allowed only one unearned run while posting a 4-to-1 strikeout-to-walk ratio. While the sample size remains small, those numbers suggest that he has held his own against big league competition. His performance will likely factor into the Rangers’ final bullpen decisions.
Two additional pitchers—Ryan Brasier and Josh Sborz—are also participating in the Rangers’ spring training camp on minor league deals. Among the two, Sborz has been particularly impressive during exhibition play. Strong spring performances can sometimes earn pitchers a surprise spot on the roster, so both players remain in the mix for potential bullpen roles.
The signing of Beeks may also provide insight into the Rangers’ thinking regarding their starting rotation. As Jeff Wilson of DLLS Sports noted, the move could signal how the team intends to resolve its competition for the fifth starting job.
Left-hander Jacob Latz is expected to be on the major league roster in some capacity. During the 2025 season, Latz spent most of his time pitching in relief, though he has also been used as a starter in the past. This spring, he has been competing with Kumar Rocker for the final spot in the Rangers’ starting rotation.
Rocker entered professional baseball with a higher level of pedigree and prospect hype. However, Latz actually delivered the stronger overall performance during the 2025 season. As a result, the competition between the two pitchers has remained fairly close throughout spring training, with neither clearly separating himself from the other.
If the Rangers ultimately decide to keep Rocker in the rotation as the fifth starter, their bullpen would contain four left-handed pitchers. Most teams generally prefer to carry only two or three left-handed relievers to maintain better balance. Having four southpaws in the bullpen would be somewhat unusual.
Because of that, the roster construction might suggest that Latz has the advantage in the rotation battle. If Latz wins the job and joins the starting staff, Rocker could begin the season at the Triple-A level, where he would continue developing while remaining available as a depth option.
Ultimately, the Rangers’ decision regarding their rotation and bullpen composition will likely come down to performance over the remaining days of spring training. With Opening Day approaching quickly, the team will soon finalize its roster and determine how each pitcher fits into its plans for the upcoming season.
