2026 Transactions: Rangers Sign Junis, Minor League Moves

This past weekend was a very quiet one. Aside from quotes from the Cardinals’ winter fan fest, the only other big piece of 2026-centric news was the Rangers’ reported agreement with Jakob Junis. Junis will join a Rangers bullpen that will look very different (again) during the upcoming season.

Junis signs with Rangers

The Rangers signed reliever Jakob Junis to a one-year deal worth $4MM, per multiple reports. Junis spent all of 2025 in the Guardians’ bullpen.

Once a starter who struggled to find his footing in that role, Junis found a groove as a reliever over the past few seasons. He struck out 55 over 66.2 IP with Cleveland, posted a 2.97 ERA, and had one of the best Barrel% (6.1%) among pitchers last year.

Junis’ velocity didn’t tick up when he moved to the bullpen. However, he does have weapons to work with against batters from both sides of the plate. Low-90s four-seamer and sinker, to go along with a mid-80s changeup, and a slider.

He finished 129th in wOBA (.301) among relievers who pitched in at least 30 games last season.

Texas will be Junis’ fourth MLB team in three years.

Minor League signings

Aside from the many international amateur free agents who signed on January 15, there were a slew of notable Minor League signings that took place over the last week:

• Patrick Halligan (Red Sox)
• Nick Margevicius (Giants)
• Jared Oliva (Giants)
• Kellen Strahm (Astros)
• Riley Unroe (Astros)

Margevicius last pitched at the MLB level in 2021. The left-hander struck out 70 and walked 18 over 74 frames with Triple-A Toledo last year.

Oliva, who spent 2025 with the Brewers’ Triple-A affiliate, also last played in the Majors back in 2021.

Strahm and Unroe were invited to the Astros’ 2026 Spring Training camp this past week.

And as noted earlier in the week, the Blue Jays signed Rafael Lantigua and Eloy Jimenez, both of whom were invited to Spring Training as non-roster invitees.