Rangers Release Utilityman Sam Haggerty, Clearing Space on the 40-Man

The Texas Rangers released utilityman Sam Haggerty on Sunday, June 7, 2026, two days after designating him for assignment. The transaction ended Haggerty’s time in Texas’ plans, as the transaction log shows the DFA on June 5 and the subsequent release on June 7. Once a player is released following that process, he becomes available to sign with another team for the remainder of the season under the usual conditions for veterans clearing the waiver and roster-removal steps.

Haggerty, listed as a left fielder and known for his ability to work multiple positions, enters the open market with a recent track record of utility value but steep performance volatility. In 2026, ’s player page shows Haggerty has collected 44 at-bats with a.159 average, a.213 on-base percentage, and a.395 OPS (with one home run and two RBI). In earlier reporting from MLB Trade Rumors, his season has been characterized by low walk volume and high strikeout frequency, a combination that can be especially difficult for a player competing for regular at-bats rather than spot duty.

The Rangers’ decision also reflected what a $1.25MM contract commitment means during the middle of the season. MLB Trade Rumors reported the Rangers are still responsible for the remaining money on Haggerty’s $1.25MM deal. Under the standard DFA release/free-agent dynamic described in that reporting, another organization that signs him can pay him the prorated league minimum for the time he spends on a major league roster, with that amount subtracted from what Texas owes. Haggerty’s service time also provides the broader strategic reality that veterans have choices once they are removed from a club’s active roster, even as teams still get to clear space.

The timing matters, too, because Texas has been active with roster moves in early June. ’s transaction page shows a busy stretch around the Haggerty move, including Texas signing free agent catcher Elias Díaz on June 6 and placing Danny Jansen on the 10-day injured list (retroactive to June 3). Haggerty’s DFA sequence also followed Texas reinstating him from a bereavement or family medical emergency list, according to MLB Trade Rumors, which suggests the club brought him back into the active mix but then decided the roster math no longer justified carrying his spot.

From the Rangers’ standpoint, releasing Haggerty is a classic midseason reset: protect roster flexibility, and concentrate at-bats and opportunities on players who are providing the current production the major league lineup requires. For Haggerty, it is an opportunity to land with a team that values experienced versatility and is willing to work with a veteran who has previously contributed as a second-base and outfield option when his offense has been trending closer to his career baseline.

What comes next is straightforward to monitor but unpredictable in destination. Haggerty should be able to attract interest as a low-cost, organizationally plug-in utility type, especially for teams that need left-right batting balance, pinch-running or late-inning defense, or extra depth during travel. For Texas, the bigger watch will be what role fills the gap he leaves on the active roster, and whether the Rangers’ recent sequence of moves is aimed at stabilizing both their positional depth and their everyday lineup choices over the summer.

MLB Trade Rumors also noted Haggerty had been tendered a 2026 contract after a productive 2025 season. That prior production is the main reason his release does not necessarily erase his baseball value; it changes when and where it is likely to be used. As of this writing, the transaction record is clear, but the next step for Haggerty depends on how quickly other clubs move to add him to their own active options.