The Texas Rangers have added depth to their outfield after claiming veteran outfielder Dairon Blanco off waivers from the Kansas City Royals. The move, announced by the Rangers, gives the club another experienced option while they continue shaping their roster for the upcoming season. To open a spot on the team’s 40-man roster, the Rangers placed pitcher Jordan Montgomery on the 60-day injured list as he continues recovering from surgery.
Blanco, a right-handed hitting outfielder, will turn 33 years old in April. The Cuban-born player began his professional baseball journey in his home country, where he competed in the Cuban National Series for several years. In 2016, Blanco defected from Cuba in hopes of pursuing a career in Major League Baseball. His path to the majors began when he signed with the Oakland Athletics organization.
During the 2019 MLB trade deadline, Blanco became part of a transaction that sent him to Kansas City. In that deal, reliever Jake Diekman was traded to Oakland, while Blanco joined the Royals’ system. Over the next few seasons, he continued developing his game in the minor leagues before finally reaching the big leagues.
Blanco made his MLB debut with the Royals in 2022. He spent most of the 2023 and 2024 seasons on the major league roster, contributing primarily as a speed-focused outfielder and bench option. However, his role diminished in 2025, when he appeared in only a handful of major league games. That year, he logged just eight plate appearances at the MLB level while spending most of his time with the Royals’ Triple-A affiliate in Omaha.
Speed has long been Blanco’s standout tool. Throughout his professional career, he has demonstrated elite baserunning ability, consistently ranking among the faster players on the field. Across his major league appearances, Blanco has compiled a career slash line of .257/.312/.416 in 284 plate appearances. His impact on the basepaths has been particularly notable, as he has successfully stolen 59 bases in 73 attempts. That level of speed provides value as a late-inning pinch runner or situational player.
Defensively, Blanco has primarily played left field during his time in the majors. While his speed helps him cover ground, defense has not been considered his strongest asset overall. Still, his versatility in the outfield and his ability to create offense with his legs make him an intriguing depth addition for Texas.
In Triple-A last season with Omaha, Blanco posted a .253/.332/.405 batting line, showing that he can still contribute offensively at the minor league level. According to roster data from FanGraphs, Blanco still has two minor league options remaining. That flexibility means the Rangers could send him to the minors if needed without exposing him to waivers again, provided he remains on the 40-man roster.
Meanwhile, Montgomery’s placement on the 60-day injured list was widely expected. The veteran left-hander is recovering from Tommy John surgery, a procedure that typically requires a lengthy rehabilitation period. As a result, Montgomery is projected to miss at least the first couple of months of the upcoming season while he continues his recovery.
Overall, the move gives the Rangers additional outfield depth and speed while creating roster flexibility as the team prepares for the season ahead.
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