The Rangers and right-hander Cory Abbott have agreed to a minor league deal, MLBTR has learned. He’ll work as a starter with their Triple-A affiliate for the time being. The Dynamic Sports Group client had been pitching in the Mexican League to begin the 2025 season.
Abbott, 28, was a second-round pick by the Cubs in 2017 and has pitched in parts of three big league seasons, suiting up for both the Cubs and Nationals from 2021-23. He’s pitched 104 2/3 innings in the majors and struggled to a 6.02 earned run average due primarily to troubles with home run. Abbott’s 20.2% strikeout rate isn’t all that far south of this year’s 21.9% league average, but he’s surrendered an average of 2.41 homers per nine innings in the majors. Homers have been a problem for him in parts of four Triple-A campaigns as well, but he’s fanned a hearty 27.7% of his opponents at that level.
It’s only a sample of 15 innings with los Tecos de los Dos Laredos in 2025, but Abbott has been sharp in an exceptionally hitter-friendly environment. He’s held opponents to four runs on 13 hits and eight walks with 15 strikeouts. The resulting 2.40 ERA is less than half the current Mexican League average of 5.75.
Abbott is the second former big leaguer the Rangers have signed out of the Mexican League this week alone; Texas picked up righty Robert Dugger on a minor league deal yesterday after he got out to a decent start with los Guerreros de Oaxaca. Abbott and Dugger are two of just a handful of starters in Mexico to keep their ERAs south of 4.00 on the young LMB season.
The Rangers also recently added former Giants and Rockies southpaw Ty Blach on a minor league deal. They’ve been stockpiling experienced arms with Jon Gray, Cody Bradford and Kumar Rocker on the injured list at present. None of the three new arms they’ve signed in the past week will step right onto the MLB roster, but they’ll add some innings in Round Rock and could be summoned to the majors should the Rangers incur further rotation injuries or find themselves with a need for a long man in the bullpen.
Now that the Rangers signed Abbott,
The signing of Costello will soon follow !!
Hoping to find lightning in a bottle for when they have to trade Tyler Mahle and his 5 million dollar bonus
I believe Mahle’s bonus is no longer a luxury tax concern for the Rangers, now that the Mariners claimed Tavares, and his 3 mil in remaining salary, from the Rangers.