Texas Rangers fine-tune roster as offseason wheels begin turning
The Texas Rangers wasted no time adjusting their roster as the MLB offseason heats up. In a quiet but meaningful set of moves, the club announced the addition of catcher Willie MacIver and reliever Michel Otanez, both claimed off waivers from the Oakland Athletics of California.
To make room, outfielders Dustin Harris and Billy McKinney were designated for assignment, cleared waivers, and are now free agents. With the flurry of changes, the Rangers’ 40-man roster holds steady at 35 players — a number that gives the front office some flexibility as winter decisions unfold.
Who is Willie MacIver? A versatile backstop with sneaky potential
MacIver, 29, might not be a household name, but the former University of Washington standout brings intriguing depth behind the plate. Drafted in the ninth round by the Colorado Rockies in 2018, he has spent recent seasons carving a path through the minors with consistent offensive flashes.
In 2025, MacIver split time between Triple-A Las Vegas and the big leagues. His AAA numbers were nothing short of eye-catching — a .362 average with a .426 OBP and .541 slugging in 54 games. His MLB stint, however, was more modest (.186/.252/.324 in 33 games).
While his raw offensive numbers pop, context matters — both Albuquerque (2024) and Las Vegas (2025) are well-known hitter-friendly environments. Still, MacIver’s mix of catching experience and infield background could make him a useful insurance policy on the Rangers’ depth chart.
More than anything, his addition is about roster strategy. The Rangers had just two catchers on the 40-man roster last year, forcing constant juggling when injuries hit. Adding MacIver ensures a safety net heading into spring training — and if a roster crunch emerges, he could be outrighted back to the minors.
Michel Otanez: Hard-throwing reliever with upside and volatility
Right-hander Michel Otanez, 28, fits a familiar profile for the Rangers: big arm, high risk, high reward. The former Mets prospect had an impressive 2024 with the Athletics, delivering a 3.44 ERA and 2.72 FIP across 34 innings.
His 2025 season, however, was bumpy. In six MLB appearances, he surrendered eight runs over just 5.1 innings. But his underlying stuff remains electric — mid- to upper-90s fastball velocity, a sharp breaking ball, and one minor league option left make him a valuable bullpen project.
Rangers’ pitching coach Mike Maddux has a reputation for refining raw arms, and Otanez could easily become this year’s bullpen surprise if he cuts down on walks.
Outfield shuffle: Harris and McKinney move on
As for Dustin Harris and Billy McKinney, their time in Texas ends after brief September call-ups. Both players filled gaps late in the season but were unlikely to survive the roster crunch. Now free agents, they’ll seek fresh starts elsewhere — a reminder of how fluid big-league depth can be when winter comes calling.
The bottom line
These might not be headline-grabbing moves, but they’re the kind of under-the-radar roster tweaks that often set the stage for bigger things. President of Baseball Operations Chris Young continues to shuffle the chessboard, ensuring Texas stays flexible for upcoming trades, free-agent signings, and arbitration decisions.
For now, the Rangers’ roster stands at 35, but the offseason is just beginning — and in Arlington, no spot is safe for long.
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