Changes in the Texas Rangers’ Bullpen
The Texas Rangers are making some changes in their bullpen, and it’s a sign of the situation they find themselves in. The New York Yankees used high-profile trade deadline acquisition David Bednar, a closer whom the Texas Rangers also pursued, to navigate the late innings in Monday night’s series opener. The Rangers, meanwhile, did not touch the arm that they’ve designated to close games for the better half of this season.
It may be a sign of a change in philosophy, too. The Rangers did not warm up left-handed closer Robert Garcia, whom manager Bruce Bochy deemed available after a weekend bout with back spasms and blown saves, and instead used a trio of relievers that included rookie right-hander Luis Curvelo in Monday’s win in extra innings vs. the Yankees at Globe Life Field.
The Current State of the Rangers’ Bullpen
On Tuesday, in a 2-0 win vs. the Yankees, right-hander Phil Maton pitched a perfect ninth inning to earn his first save since he was acquired from the St. Louis Cardinals at last Thursday’s deadline. Maton said, “Ultimately, regardless of the situation, save, not save, blowout game, you’re going out there to try and throw a zero. I know it’s a big spot but it’s honestly all kind of the same to me.”
Maton — and a host of other Texas relievers — could start to see more action and opportunities in the ninth after a whiplash five days of closer talk. Bochy committed to Garcia as the club’s closer Saturday after he blew a save in Friday’s loss to the Seattle Mariners and bemoaned the notion that “everybody wants to make a move” after one rough outing.
Bochy’s Comments on the Closer Situation
He acknowledged before Monday’s game the desire to give Garcia a “softer landing,” otherwise known as low-leverage situations, after his back spasms and weekend struggles. Monday’s game, in which the Rangers either trailed by a run or were tied with the Yankees for the final seven innings until third baseman Josh Jung’s walkoff home run, was admittedly, not exactly that.
He was significantly less committal Tuesday afternoon, though, when asked if Garcia will remain the team’s full-time closer after said soft return. Bochy said, “I’m not going to —,” before he shifted gears. “I think, if you look at our bullpen, we’re comfortable closing with three or four guys.”
The Rangers’ Options for the Closer Role
Bochy’s comments can be interpreted as, at the very least, confirmation that Garcia will no longer function as the sole and de facto closer after consecutive blown saves against the Mariners this past weekend. The 29-year-old left-hander, whom the Rangers acquired from the Washington Nationals this winter in exchange for first baseman Nathaniel Lowe, has closed games for the Rangers since right-hander Luke Jackson lost the job more than two months ago.
Other metrics — such as his 7.20 ERA in high-leverage situations or 4.19 ERA in the ninth inning — suggest a worrisome trend. Bochy said Monday on the Rangers Sports Network pregame show that Garcia has tried to “bull his way through these guys” lately instead of “pitching” and flatly said that the method “doesn’t work up here.”
He also declared that the Rangers will consider “the best possibility, or the best candidate” for save situations. It’s not a dissimilar position to the one that Texas was in five months ago in Surprise, Ariz., when it entered spring training without an experienced closer on the roster.
The Closer-by-Committee Arrangement
Bochy stressed the importance of “pockets” in late-game situations to put individual relievers in the best position to help the team in critical moments or to give them a matchup advantage. He said that the team’s two bullpen deadline acquisitions — closers or not — will allow him to be more flexible in the ninth inning. The Rangers used left-handed Danny Coulombe, whom they acquired from the Minnesota Twins last week, to pitch the 10th inning of Monday’s win.
“A lot of times that’s your closer [in that] situation,” Bochy said. “We would be comfortable if it lined up right with [Coulombe] closing, or [Hoby] Milner, the two lefties we have there, along with Garcia.”
Bochy said that Maton should be considered a candidate because “he probably has more experience than anybody down there in a high-leverage role.” The 32-year-old earned his eighth career save Tuesday in his third game as a Ranger.
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Chris Martin, a 39-year-old right-hander sidelined with a calf strain, might figure into the mix once he returns from the injured list. Bochy once again shut down the notion that right-hander Jon Gray, a starter by trade now in the bullpen, could shift into the ninth inning.
Conclusion
The Texas Rangers are making changes in their bullpen, and it’s a sign of the situation they find themselves in. With the closer-by-committee arrangement, the team has options, but maybe not the one obvious candidate to serve as a full-time closer. The Rangers will consider the best possibility or the best candidate for save situations, and Bochy stressed the importance of “pockets” in late-game situations to put individual relievers in the best position to help the team.
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FAQs
Q: Who is the current closer for the Texas Rangers?
A: The Texas Rangers are using a closer-by-committee arrangement, with several pitchers having the opportunity to close games.
Q: Why did the Rangers make changes to their bullpen?
A: The Rangers made changes to their bullpen due to the struggles of their current closer, Robert Garcia, and the desire to be more flexible in the ninth inning.
Q: Who are the options for the closer role in the Rangers’ bullpen?
A: The options for the closer role include
