ARLINGTON, Texas — The Texas Rangers added a promising young arm to their pitching depth Monday, acquiring left-hander Adam Macko from the Toronto Blue Jays in exchange for infielder Josh Smith and minor league right-hander Josh Stephan. In a corresponding move, veteran right-hander Chris Martin was reinstated from the 15-day injured list and designated for assignment.
Macko Brings Strikeout Upside and Historic Milestone to Texas
Macko, 25, has spent his first major league season shuttling between Toronto and Triple-A Buffalo, appearing in 22 games (one start) for the Blue Jays while posting a 2–0 record, 4.91 ERA, 23 strikeouts, and 10 walks across 22 innings. He opened his career with eight consecutive scoreless outings, becoming just the fourth pitcher in franchise history to begin his MLB tenure with zero runs allowed over his first eight appearances.
At Triple-A Buffalo, Macko logged 18 relief appearances, going 2–2 with a 4.18 ERA, 28 strikeouts, and a 1.31 WHIP in 23.2 innings. He will report to Triple-A Round Rock.
Ranked No. 23 in Toronto’s system by Baseball America, Macko is the first modern-day MLB player born in Slovakia. Drafted by Seattle in the seventh round in 2019, he later joined Toronto in the November 2022 trade that sent Teoscar Hernández to the Mariners. Macko also pitched for Team Canada in the 2026 World Baseball Classic, delivering 2.1 scoreless innings across three appearances.
Smith Heads to Toronto After Six Seasons in Rangers System
Smith, 28, appeared in 45 games for Texas this season, batting .213/.299/.272 with 29 hits and 13 RBI while making 36 defensive starts — 30 of them at second base. His season included three stints on the major league roster and a 37-game absence due to a right glute strain, left wrist inflammation, and viral meningitis.
At Triple-A Round Rock, Smith hit .229 with three home runs and five doubles. The LSU product has spent parts of six seasons in the Rangers organization after arriving from the Yankees in the 2021 Joey Gallo trade.
Stephan Provides Blue Jays a Durable Minor League Starter
Stephan, 24, has spent the entire season with Triple-A Round Rock, going 6–5 with a 5.44 ERA, 97 strikeouts, and 31 walks across 101 innings in 21 games (19 starts). Signed as an undrafted free agent in 2020, Stephan has climbed through five levels of the Rangers system, compiling a 29–27 record, 4.25 ERA, and 481 innings over six minor league seasons.
Martin Reinstated, Designated for Assignment
Martin, 40, was reinstated from the 15-day injured list and designated for assignment after posting a 9.00 ERA across 16 appearances this season. The veteran reliever has endured two IL stints due to right shoulder impingement and last pitched on July 11.
Across an 11-year major league career with eight clubs, Martin owns a 3.53 ERA and a 7.44 strikeout-to-walk ratio, the highest in MLB history among pitchers with at least 300 innings.
With Monday’s transactions, the Rangers’ major league roster stands at 39 players, with eight players currently on the 60-day injured list.
