Neither move is expected to make big waves in the short term, but both players will compete for meaningful roles as the club looks ahead to the 2026 season.
Jose Herrera
Herrera, 28, comes to Texas after spending all four of his major league seasons with the Arizona Diamondbacks, who originally signed him in 2013 as an amateur free agent. For the first time in his 12-year pro career, he will wear a different uniform than Arizona’s.
Primarily used as a depth option, Herrera has spent much of the last four years shuttling between the majors and Triple-A. He played between 41 and 57 games each season, with a career slash line of .200/.280/.259.
While Herrera isn’t considered an everyday starter, he provides the Rangers with a reliable defensive presence. Defensively, advanced metrics have credited him for his blocking ability and control of the running game, although his pitch framing is consistently below league average.
Should Danny Jansen or Kyle Higashioka miss time, Herrera could serve as a capable backup option.
Veneziano is aiming for a bullpen role
Venetiana 26-year-old southpaw, arrives in Texas after moving between several organizations over the past few years. The former Kansas City Royals prospect made his MLB debut in 2023, appearing in just two games before starting at Triple-A the following season.
After posting a 4.50 ERA in limited innings with Kansas City, Veneziano was designated for assignment in early September 2024 and claimed waivers from the Miami Marlins. Under then manager – and now Rangers skipper – Skip Schumaker, Veneziano made ten appearances, posting a 3.18 ERA with twelve strikeouts in 11 1/3 innings.
The 2025 campaign produced mixed results. Veneziano pitched to a 4.71 ERA over 24 appearances before another DFA led to a brief stint with the St. Louis Cardinals, where he struck out five in four innings while allowing two runs. He became a free agent after clearing waivers later that month.
While dealing with the carousel of trades, Veneziano showed encouraging progress with a refined sinker that lowered his flyball rate and increased his ground-ball rate from 30.6% in 2025 to 49.4%, well above the MLB average of 41.8%.
With the Rangers looking for stability in the bullpen, Veneziano will get a legitimate opportunity to break camp with the Major League team. If he continues to generate weak contact and impress Schumaker in spring training, he could be in the mix for a middle-relief role by Opening Day.
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