The Texas Rangers signed veteran right-hander Trevor Williams to a major-league contract Tuesday, adding inexpensive late-season pitching depth as rosters expand.
Williams, 34, was released by the Washington Nationals this week after being designated for assignment last week and clearing waivers. He was in the second year of a two-year, $14 million deal with Washington.
The Nationals remain responsible for most of that salary; Texas will pay only the prorated major-league minimum for any time he spends on the active roster.
The Rangers already had a 40-man opening and did not need a corresponding move. They also recalled infielder/outfielder Cam Cauley from Triple-A Round Rock.
Williams has been a major-league pitcher since September 2016, when he debuted with the Pittsburgh Pirates. Over 11 seasons he has appeared in 227 games (178 starts) for the Pirates, Chicago Cubs, New York Mets, and Nationals, compiling a 53-65 record, 4.43 ERA, 1.37 WHIP, 1,026 innings, and 847 strikeouts.
His best season came in 2018 with Pittsburgh: 14-10 with a 3.11 ERA in 170 2/3 innings. After a mid-2021 trade from the Cubs to the Mets, he settled into a swing role and later signed two consecutive two-year deals with Washington.
A strong 2024 (2.03 ERA in 13 starts) earned him a $14 million extension, but 2025 was difficult: 3-10 with a 6.21 ERA in 17 starts before an elbow issue.
He returned this season in a long-relief role and posted a 2.65 ERA with 22 strikeouts and six walks in 17 innings over eight appearances before the Nationals cut him.
For Texas, the move is low-risk depth. Williams can work multiple innings, eat innings in blowouts or as an emergency starter, and give the bullpen a veteran presence during the final month.
At 6-foot-3 and 231 pounds, the San Diego native and Arizona State product still mixes a fastball, slider, and changeup. Whether he sticks beyond September depends on results, but the cost is minimal and the innings could prove useful.
Williams becomes eligible for another club’s postseason roster if he remains with Texas.
For a Rangers team looking for extra arms as the calendar turns to September, a 10-year veteran available at the minimum is a straightforward addition.
