The Rangers added another arm to their bullpen mix Monday, claiming Jose Butto off waivers from the Giants and placing him on the 40-man roster.
Texas sees a possible right-handed setup option in Butto, who was waived by San Francisco after the World Series. The move gives the Rangers a low-cost bullpen candidate as they look to rebuild that group around presumed closer Jacob Latz next season.
To clear space, Texas designated outfielder Michael Helman for assignment. Helman went unclaimed on waivers and was sent to Triple-A Round Rock. He does not have the service time to refuse the assignment.
Butto’s 2025 season was cut short after just two innings with the Giants, when he developed a blood clot in his arm that required surgery. He is expected to be ready for 2027. San Francisco was forced into a roster crunch because it had nearly 20 players on its 60-day injured list and had to activate or waive them before Monday’s 5 p.m. deadline to get its 40-man roster in order.
The Rangers were looking for bullpen help after Jakob Junis turned down his mutual option over the weekend. Butto gives them a pitcher with recent major league experience and a track record that includes two solid seasons.
He broke into the majors with the Mets in 2022, then put together a strong 2024: 7-3 with a 2.55 ERA in 30 games, three saves in six chances, 79 strikeouts and 38 walks in 74 innings. In 2025, he went 5-3 with a 3.90 ERA in 55 games, striking out 58 and walking 32 in 67 innings.
Butto was dealt from the Mets to the Giants at the 2025 deadline in a four-player trade that brought reliever Tyler Rogers to New York and sent starter Blade Tidwell and outfielder Drew Gilbert to San Francisco.
Before the blood clot ended his season, Butto had thrown two innings for the Giants, allowing four walks while striking out five in three appearances.
Texas is also trying to reshape its bullpen for 2027, with Latz lined up as the closer. He entered spring training as a candidate for the fifth starter spot but finished as an All-Star closer for the Rangers. Other relievers under team control for 2027 include Robby Ahlstrom, Gavin Collyer, Robert Garcia, Peyton Gray, Adam Macko, Michel Otanez, Ben Peoples and Chase Silseth.
The Rangers also added pitcher Aidan Curry to the 40-man roster last weekend to protect him from other clubs in a possible Rule 5 draft, though that draft may not happen if there is a work stoppage after Dec. 1.
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