The Texas Rangers have added another arm to their organizational depth, agreeing to a minor league contract with right-handed pitcher Nabil Crismatt, according to a report from Daniel Alvarez-Montes of El Extrabase. As part of the deal, Crismatt has received an invitation to participate in the Rangers’ major league Spring Training camp, giving him a chance to compete for a roster spot before the season begins.
The timing of the agreement is fitting, as Crismatt recently celebrated his 31st birthday on Christmas Day. This marks the second time the right-hander has joined the Texas organization. During the 2024 season, he briefly pitched for Triple-A Round Rock, spending about a month with the affiliate before being released without making an appearance at the major league level. That short stint was one of several stops Crismatt has made in recent years, as he has bounced between organizations on minor league contracts while navigating life without any remaining minor league options.
Despite the journeyman label, Crismatt has continued to find opportunities at the big-league level. Across the 2023 and 2024 seasons, he logged 20 MLB innings with the Padres, Diamondbacks, and Dodgers. His most substantial recent run in the majors came in 2025, when he threw 34 innings for Arizona. Promoted to the Diamondbacks’ active roster in mid-August, Crismatt delivered respectable results, posting a 3.71 ERA while showing solid control with a 5.9 percent walk rate and a 16.3 percent strikeout rate.
While those numbers were not eye-catching, they hinted at a return to the form Crismatt showed earlier in his career. During the 2021–22 seasons with San Diego, he was a reliable member of the Padres’ bullpen, compiling a 3.39 ERA over nearly 149 innings. In that stretch, he paired effectiveness with durability, striking out over 21 percent of opposing hitters while maintaining a manageable walk rate. A downturn in performance during the 2023 season, however, prompted the Padres to move on, setting Crismatt on a more nomadic path around the league.
For the Rangers, the signing fits into a broader offseason strategy. Although Texas’ bullpen was a quiet strength in 2025, several key contributors departed in free agency, including Shawn Armstrong, Hoby Milner, Jacob Webb, and Phil Maton. Their exits created openings and forced the front office to search for affordable, short-term solutions to replenish the relief corps.
Texas has already brought in pitchers such as Chris Martin, Alexis Díaz, and Tyler Alexander on guaranteed contracts, while also inviting multiple arms to camp on non-roster deals. Crismatt now joins that group, entering Spring Training with a legitimate opportunity to earn a spot. His experience and past success as a middle reliever could make him an appealing option if he performs well.
That said, Crismatt’s lack of minor league options could work against him. If he does not clearly secure a role, he may again find himself squeezed out during final roster decisions. Still, the Rangers’ invitation gives him another chance to prove he can contribute at the highest level and potentially re-establish himself as a dependable bullpen arm in the majors.
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