Danny Jansen (33) rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run during the ninth inning against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park. Denis Poroy-Imagn Images

Journeyman catcher Danny Jansen on move back to American League

By Mike J. Asti | Last updated Dec 12, 2025 11:21 PM ET

A journeyman catcher with some pop is on the move, as Danny Jansen heads back to the American League.

Late Friday night, MLB Network insider Jon Heyman reported that Jansen agreed to a two-year deal with the Texas Rangers.

Jansen, 30, will now join his fourth different American League team and fifth different franchise overall.

After starting off the 2025 season with Tampa Bay, he signed a one-year deal with the Rays in December of 2024. Jansen was traded to the Milwaukee Brewers as they looked to load up for a postseason run.

Rangers, catcher Danny Jansen agree to 2-year deal, per multiple reports including @MLBNetwork insider @JonHeyman. pic.twitter.com/gSuinwKlme
— MLB (@MLB) December 13, 2025

And while Jansen was productive for the Brewers, who fell shy of a trip to the World Series by falling to the eventual back-to-back champion Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League Championship Series, Milwaukee still declined his option on Nov. 3, thus making him a free agent again.

Danny Jansen had one of his best seasons in 2025

In 25 games after the trade with the Brewers, Jansen hit .254 with a .346 on-base percentage and a .433 slugging percentage. He also crushed three of his 14 home runs on the year and drove in seven runs.

Before switching teams, Jansen blasted 11 home runs and recorded 29 RBI in 73 games with the Rays.

Jansen's total production made 2025 one of his best seasons from an offensive perspective in his eight-year career. He hit .205 with only nine home runs and 24 RBI in 2024, a season he also split time between two teams.

Jansen is no stranger to being traded in the middle of a season

Jansen opened that season with the Toronto Blue Jays, where he spent the first six years of his career before 2024, but ended up finishing the season in Boston with the Red Sox.

In 599 career MLB games, Jansen has 88 home runs, 256 RBI, 248 runs scored and a slash line of .220/.311/.415.

Mike J. Asti

Mike Asti is an experienced media personality and journalist with a vast resume and skillset, most notably from time with TribLIVE Radio and WPXI-TV. Asti now serves as the Managing Editor of WV Sports Now, where he leads the coverage of WVU sports. He has also covered the Steelers, Penguins, Pirates and other teams within the Pittsburgh market

More must-reads: