The Rangers are moving Aidan Curry onto the 40-man roster, according to Joel Sherman of The New York Post, and that decision keeps the right-hander from reaching minor league free agency on Monday.
Curry has been in the system since signing as an undrafted free agent in 2020, and he’s spent parts of seven seasons in the minors. At 6’5″ and 205 pounds, he fits the classic pitcher’s frame, and the Rangers have kept him in a starting role throughout his development.
The stuff has drawn attention even if the results have bounced around. Curry has a five-pitch mix and has gotten his fastball into the mid-90s.
Baseball America had him among the top 30 prospects in a thin Texas farm system a couple seasons ago, while Brendan Gawlowski of FanGraphs ranked him 25th in the organization back in April. Gawlowski’s writeup gave all five pitches at least average grades, but also pointed to shaky control and a likely move to the bullpen.
Texas has continued to send Curry out as a starter anyway. He began the year in High-A, spent most of the season in Double-A, and made one start in mid-August at Triple-A Round Rock. Across 104 innings, he posted a 4.93 ERA with a strong 29% strikeout rate and a troubling 12.4% walk rate.
That mix of swing-and-miss stuff and inconsistent command explains why the Rangers may ultimately see him fitting in relief, possibly as soon as next spring. With bullpen uncertainty in the mix, Curry’s place on the 40-man gives him a path to a midseason promotion.
Texas also has 10 impending free agents, which gives the front office some room to maneuver. His addition brings the Rangers to 37 players on the 40-man.
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