Texas Rangers Secure Jakob Junis to Bolster Bullpen
The Texas Rangers have reached an agreement for one season and $4 million with right-handed pitcher Jakob Junis, according to a source close to the negotiation. The main objective is to reinforce the bullpen depth for next season. However, the club has not yet made the agreement official.
Junis, 33, joins the Rangers after becoming a free agent for the fourth time in his career. Last season, with the Cleveland Guardians, he served exclusively as a reliever, proving to be a key piece in the pitching staff.
In 2025, Junis pitched 66.2 innings with a remarkable 2.97 ERA, establishing himself as a reliable reliever in high-pressure situations. His performance prior to the 2024 season showed an ERA of 4.64, but he managed to improve significantly, recording a 2.83 ERA in 133.2 innings during the last two campaigns.
The slider remains their primary pitch, used in approximately 45% of their deliveries in recent seasons. Opposing batters barely hit .238 against this pitch, with a high strikeout rate of 31.4%, thanks to its characteristic sweeper-like lateral movement.
The most notable evolution in his repertoire has been the increased use of the changeup, driven by Cleveland’s coaching staff. This pitch went from less than 10% to about 20% of his pitches. With the changeup, Junis limited opponents to only three extra-base hits, without allowing home runs, and achieved 15 strikeouts.
Although his fastest pitches were not the most effective, the right-hander managed to minimize the damage by allowing only one home run with both his four-seam fastball and his sinker.
An aspect to watch closely in his career is the decrease in the speed of his fastball, which has lost just over a mile per hour in recent years. Even so, Junis is shaping up to be a valuable option for the Rangers, who are looking to bring stability and experience to their bullpen.
