The Texas Rangers are still looking for another starting pitcher for 2024, but their bullpen options are starting to fill up.
The Rangers acquired right-handed reliever Daniel Duarte from the Cincinnati Reds in exchange for cash considerations. Duarte fills out the Rangers 40-man Major League roster.
Duarte, 27, was 3-0 with a 3.69 ERA in 31.2 innings in 2023. Most of his season was spent with Triple-A Louisville, where he was 4-0 with a 3.34 ERA in 35 innings. He averaged 10 strikeouts per nine innings in Triple-A.
Cincinnati designated Duarte for assignment on Saturday when the Reds signed free agent left-hander Brent Suter.
Duarte was on the Reds' 2022 Opening Day roster and made 34 appearances over 2022 and 2023. The Mexico native was signed by the Rangers in 2013 and made his professional debut in 2015 with Texas in the Arizona Rookie League at age 18. He spent 2018 and 2019 in the Kansas City Royals system. He joined the Reds system in 2020.
The Rangers also signed right-handed pitcher José Ureña to a minor league contract with an invitation to Major League spring training camp. Ureña, 32, was 0-7 with a 6.45 ERA in 10 starts between stints with the Chicago White Sox and Colorado Rockies in 2023.
In 88.1 innings in the minor leagues in 2023, he was 2-4 with a 5.60 ERA. He spent his first six major league seasons with Miami, making his debut in 2015. He's also pitched with the Tigers, Rockies, and White Sox.
More must-reads: