Rangers Bring Back Familiar Arm: Veteran Pitcher Signs Minor League Deal for Added Depth
Carl Edwards Jr. returns to his original team as Texas looks to boost Triple-A rotation amid recent departures
The Texas Rangers have signed veteran right-hander Carl Edwards Jr. to a minor league contract and assigned him to Triple-A Round Rock, according to multiple reports, including MLB.com’s Kennedi Landry.
Now 33, Edwards returns to the organization that originally drafted him in 2013, before trading him to the Cubs where he earned a World Series ring in 2016 and enjoyed the best stretch of his career.
In recent years, Edwards has bounced around the league in journeyman fashion. After a tough 2019, his time in the majors has been sporadic. He had a strong run with the Nationals in 2022 and parts of 2023, before a shoulder injury shut him down. Since then, he’s seen limited big-league action—just one appearance in 2024 and two this year with the Angels before being designated for assignment and electing free agency.
His 2025 journey has taken him between MLB and Mexico. After signing with the Tigres de Quintana Roo in March, he briefly joined the Angels, then returned to Mexico where he found success as a starter—posting a 3.38 ERA over 74.2 innings in 14 outings. Considering the Mexican League’s hitter-friendly environment (league ERA sits at 5.90), his numbers stand out.
With the Rangers having recently lost several Triple-A arms—including Adrian Houser, Gerson Garabito, and Dane Dunning—Edwards provides immediate rotation depth for Round Rock. His experience and recent stretch of solid performances should help stabilize a thinning pitching staff at the Triple-A level.
