Rangers Agree To Deal With Veteran Closer

The Texas Rangers have agreed to a one-year contract with veteran reliever David Robertson, who could help fill out the closer role next season, according to multiple reports.

ESPN.com reported the deal is between $11-12 million.

Robertson, who turns 39 in April, is coming off an 18-save season with the New York Mets and Miami Marlins. He took over the Mets' closer role from Edwin Diaz, who missed all of 2023 with an injury.

Once the Mets were out of the playoff race, they dealt several of their veteran players, including current Rangers pitcher Max Scherzer.

Robertson has been a reliever since he joined the New York Yankees in 2008. He is 63-42 with a 2.90 ERA, 1,055 strikeouts, and 330 walks in 804.2 innings. He won a World Series with the Yankees in 2009 and made his only All-Star Game appearance in 2011.

He’s well removed from his most productive seasons as a closer from 2014-16 when he saved more than 30 games each season.

Robertson joins a bullpen led by José Leclerc, who figures to get the first crack as the team’s closer in 2024. Leclerc won the job to begin last year, lost it, and then reclaimed it late in the regular season. He only had four regular-season saves but had as many in the postseason as the Rangers won their first World Series title.

Josh Sborz, the Rangers’ top set-up man, will return, along with Brock Burke and three starters that could swing into the bullpen — Dane Dunning, Jon Gray, and Cody Bradford.

The Rangers also signed Kirby Yates in free agency, along with selecting former Yankees prospect Carson Coleman in the Rule 5 Draft.