The Rangers have been busy at the Dollar Store. Almost the same time the Rangers signed catcher Danny Jansen, they signed a former closer in Alexis Diaz and another bullpen arm in Tyler Alexander.

Alexis Diaz.

Diaz is a twenty-nine-year-old former reliable closer for the Reds. The key word here being former. That’s what makes him affordable for the Rangers. He was formerly reliable.

In his rookie year, 2022, Diaz put up an ERA of 1.84 and turned that, and a strong start in 2023, into a roster spot on the 2023 National League All-Star team, picking up thirty-two saves that year. He saved twenty-eight more games for the Reds in 2024, but his strikeout rate dropped while his walk rate was among the highest for a closer.

The reason the Rangers were able to get him is because his 2025 season was a disaster, which dropped his price considerably. He started 2025 on the I.L. then, in his first appearance after coming back, gave up three home runs to lose a game. He was sent down to Triple-A to get some work, and all he did was lose the strike zone. The Reds traded him to the Dodgers in May, and the Dodgers cut him in September.

The Braves picked him up, he made three unspectacular appearances for Atlanta, then was sent down with a 10.13 ERA. He joins a long line of bargain basement Rangers bullpen signings. He does have closing experience but you have to hope he doesn’t go into the season targeted to be the Texas closer. They did that with Luke Jackson last season. He is still giving up runs.

Tyler Alexander.

The other reliever the Rangers picked up is thirty-one-year-old left-handed Tyler Alexander, a multi-innings eater out of the pen.

Alexander appeared in fifty-two games in 2025 with both the White Sox and Brewers, almost all in relief. Alexander started five times. He is a low-leverage pitcher, often going three or four innings, which is the kind of pitcher you hope you don’t need often because they typically enter games when their team is out of it.

He ended the season with Milwaukee, where he was hit harder than Budweiser in a cowboy bar, putting up a 6.19 ERA.

The Rangers are in desperation mode, though, trying to find any arm—reliable or otherwise—they can afford. And Alexander is coming home. He’s from Southlake, Texas. Maybe that will give him an extra boost.

In 2025, Texas constructed its bullpen with a collection of cheap, one-year rentals. It appears that is their MO this year as well.