The Texas Rangers added experienced pitching depth Tuesday by signing left-handed pitcher Marco Gonzales to a minor league contract.
Gonzales, 34, was let go by the San Diego Padres on June 16 after spending the first part of the season with Triple-A El Paso. He made 13 appearances for the Padres' top affiliate, recording a 7.99 ERA across 47 1/3 innings. During that stretch, he amassed 36 strikeouts while issuing walks at a 7.6% rate. His season was also impacted by a .416 batting average on balls in play and a 52.4% strand rate. Gonzales generated ground balls at a 41.6% clip but struck out only 15.2% of opposing hitters.
The veteran left-hander is attempting to return to the major leagues after missing the entire 2025 season. His absence followed a left forearm injury suffered during the 2024 campaign that eventually required flexor tendon surgery. Gonzales last appeared in the majors with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2024, when he logged a 4.54 ERA over 33 2/3 innings in seven starts before his season was cut short.
A first-round draft selection in 2013, Gonzales owns extensive major league experience. Across his MLB career from 2014 through 2024, he compiled a 4.16 ERA in 926 2/3 innings. He is best known for his seven-year run with the Seattle Mariners from 2017-23, where he appeared in 151 games, including 148 starts. During his time in Seattle, Gonzales went 61-47 with a 4.08 ERA over 852 1/3 innings and served as the club’s Opening Day starter from 2019 through 2021.
Following the 2023 season, Gonzales was traded from Seattle to the Atlanta Braves before being dealt to Pittsburgh two days later. He joined San Diego on a minor league contract during spring training in an effort to restart his career but was unable to earn a promotion to the major league roster.
Texas' decision comes as the team searches for additional rotation depth. The Rangers recently lost Jack Leiter to the injured list with right ankle posterior impingement, creating uncertainty behind established starters Jacob deGrom, Nathan Eovaldi, MacKenzie Gore and Kumar Rocker. With several internal depth options underperforming at Triple-A, Gonzales provides the organization with a veteran arm who could potentially be called upon for spot-start duties or bulk innings if needed.
Gonzales made his Triple-A Round Rock debut Tuesday against Tacoma. He allowed three runs over four innings in his first outing.
