Rangers juggle bullpen depth and catcher spot, option Curvelo and release Haggerty

The Texas Rangers made two roster moves that touched both the active bullpen and the bench on the same weekend they added catcher Elias Díaz. Díaz was signed to a one-year Major League contract after Texas placed catcher Danny Jansen on the 10-day injured list with a right forearm strain. With Jansen unavailable, the Rangers needed immediate catchers depth, and the club’s transaction activity also shows how quickly they have been willing to reshuffle the 40-man roster to keep playing with options.

On June 6, posted the club’s official transaction package: Jansen was sent to the IL, and Díaz was signed and slated to be available for Texas’ game against the Cleveland Guardians. The move reflects a straightforward organizational calculation, there was no long runway for a roster fill with the schedule continuing, and the Rangers chose to add a veteran catcher with Major League experience instead of waiting for a call-up later in the week.

The roster opening required for Díaz’s addition came from the bench. Texas designated utility player Sam Haggerty for assignment on June 5, and the club later released him after he cleared waivers. ’s Rangers transaction log lists Haggerty’s DFA on June 5 and his release on June 7, consistent with the broader timeline of Texas adding Díaz as Jansen sat. Haggerty’s departure also matters because, even without being a daily starter, he had been used as a flexible option across positions when the Rangers needed in-game lineup adjustments.

In a separate transaction, Texas also moved pitcher Luis Curvelo out of the majors and back to the minors. Curvelo had been recalled from Triple-A Round Rock on June 1, returning as a bullpen arm. CBS Sports reported that he was optioned to Triple-A Round Rock after Sunday’s game, placing him back in the player pool Texas manages during a long stretch of roster turnover.

That combination of moves, a catcher addition plus a bullpen demotion, underlines a recurring feature of the Rangers’ approach in 2026. The club is trying to maintain operational coverage across multiple roles at once, catcher availability and late-inning pitching especially. A catcher is one injury away from forcing two or three additional bench changes, and a bullpen arm is one call away from turning into a staffing issue when a starter’s length or the bullpen usage plan changes.

For Curvelo, the demotion is a chance to reset in Triple-A while still staying connected to the major-league mix. He re-entered the majors earlier in June, giving Texas a live option from the relief group, and now his next step is earning another opportunity through performance at Round Rock. For Haggerty, the release ends a brief Rangers window after he was moved off the 40-man roster to make room for the Díaz signing. The Rangers now have fewer in-house utility depth pieces available on short notice, which could be relevant if Texas continues to chase matchup-driven lineups or needs another positional plug later in the week.

Next, the most important question for Texas is how quickly Díaz fits into the daily rhythm of games with Jansen still out, including how the Rangers plan their catcher usage and how they manage the remaining bench spots. In parallel, the bullpen picture will be watched to see whether Curvelo’s next return is immediate or whether Texas sticks with other relief options as the rotation and leverage usage settle in.