The Texas Rangers today announced a series of roster moves:
- RHP Jakob Junis has signed a one‑year Major League contract for the 2026 season.
- RHP Dom Hamel has been designated for assignment.
Junis, 33, spent the entire 2025 season on Cleveland’s active roster, posting a 4–1 record with a 2.97 ERA (22 ER/66.2 IP) across a career‑high 57 relief appearances. He recorded 55 strikeouts, issued 18 walks, and allowed just 0.68 home runs per nine innings—the 10th‑best mark among American League relievers with at least 65 innings pitched. Left‑handed hitters managed only a .237 average (23‑for‑97) and .669 OPS against him.
Junis delivered two separate nine‑game scoreless streaks (March 29–April 17 and July 1–30) and posted a 2.03 ERA (6 ER/26.2 IP) in 20 appearances after the All‑Star break.
Across his nine‑year Major League career, Junis owns a 46–46 record, two saves, a 4.36 ERA (410 ER/847.0 IP), a 4.31 FIP, and 768 strikeouts in 249 games (116 starts) with Kansas City (2017–21), San Francisco (2022–23), Milwaukee (2024), Cincinnati (2024), and Cleveland (2025). He is one of only four active pitchers with 100+ starts and 100+ relief appearances since 2017, joining Seth Lugo, Reynaldo López, and Brad Keller. The Jacksonville, Arkansas native was selected by Kansas City in the 29th round of the 2011 MLB Draft out of Rock Falls Township High School (IL).
Hamel, 26, was claimed off waivers from Baltimore on September 27, 2025, and did not appear in a game for Texas. The Rangers have seven days to trade, release, or outright him to the minor leagues.
With today’s moves, the Rangers remain at the 40‑man roster limit.
Rangers Sign RHP Josh Sborz to Minor League Contract
The club also announced the signing of RHP Josh Sborz to a minor league contract with an invitation to Major League Spring Training.
Sborz, 32, spent the entire 2025 season on the 60‑day Injured List following right shoulder surgery in November 2024. He made 12 rehab appearances between Triple‑A Round Rock and Double‑A Frisco before being shut down after his August 30 outing. Sborz last pitched in the Majors in 2024, going 2–2 with a 3.86 ERA (7 ER/16.1 IP) over 17 relief appearances for Texas.
