Rangers Add Former Mariners Starter Marco Gonzales on Minor League Deal
The Texas Rangers made a low-risk move to strengthen their pitching depth on Monday night, agreeing to a minor league contract with veteran left-handed pitcher Marco Gonzales.
According to Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News, Gonzales has joined the Rangers organization after spending time earlier this season in the San Diego Padres’ minor league system. The 34-year-old brings plenty of experience with him, having pitched in the majors for parts of 10 seasons. His most recent appearance at the big league level came in 2024, when he suited up for the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Gonzales is best known for his long run with the Seattle Mariners. Out of his 162 career major league starts, 148 came while wearing a Mariners uniform. During his seven-season stretch in Seattle, he became a familiar and dependable arm in the rotation, posting a 4.08 ERA. While he was never the flashiest pitcher in baseball, Gonzales built his career on consistency, command, and the ability to give his team innings.
For Texas, the signing carries very little downside. Because Gonzales is coming in on a minor league deal, the Rangers are not making a major financial or roster commitment. Instead, they are adding an experienced pitcher who could become useful later in the season if injuries or performance issues create a need for additional starting pitching options.
Darragh McDonald of MLB Trade Rumors noted that the move makes sense for the Rangers because Gonzales has a respectable major league résumé. From 2014 through 2024, he recorded a 4.16 ERA across 926 2/3 innings. That kind of track record is valuable, especially for a club looking to protect itself with extra pitching depth.
However, Gonzales’ recent numbers have not been strong. Before landing with the Rangers, he made 13 appearances for Triple-A El Paso in the Padres’ system. His results there were difficult, as he gave up 42 earned runs and six home runs over 47 1/3 innings. Those numbers suggest he has not yet found his best form this season.
Still, there may be context behind the struggles. Gonzales missed an entire season, so it is possible he is still working his way back into rhythm. Pitchers often need time to regain feel, command, stamina, and confidence after a long layoff. There is also the possibility that some of his poor results were influenced by bad luck rather than a complete decline in ability.
The Rangers are not necessarily expecting Gonzales to immediately become a major league contributor. Instead, this appears to be a depth-focused signing. If he performs well in the minors, he could eventually give Texas another experienced option for the rotation or long relief.
For Gonzales, the deal gives him another chance to prove he can still help a major league club. For the Rangers, it is a simple gamble on a proven veteran with nearly 1,000 innings of big league experience.
Leave a Reply