Neftali Feliz #30 of the Texas Rangers
Former Rangers Closer Neftali Feliz Signs with Mariners, Eyes MLB Comeback
A once-dominant closer is making another run at the big leagues. The Seattle Mariners have signed former Texas Rangers star Neftali Feliz to a minor league deal with an invite to spring training, giving the veteran right-hander an opportunity to revive his career in the American League West.
Feliz, 36, last appeared in the majors in 2021 but has spent the past three seasons pitching in the Mexican League. While his best days may be behind him, Seattle sees enough in the former All-Star to take a low-risk chance on his potential return.
A Flash of Dominance in Texas
Feliz burst onto the scene with the Rangers in 2009, flashing electric stuff out of the bullpen. By 2010, he took over as Texas’ closer, recording 40 saves and earning American League Rookie of the Year honors. That season, he helped the Rangers reach their first-ever World Series, where he locked down the save in Texas’ only win of the series against the San Francisco Giants.
The following year, Feliz remained a key figure in the Rangers’ bullpen, tallying 32 saves while helping the team reach the Fall Classic for a second straight season. However, his tenure in Texas will always be tied to the heartbreak of Game 6 in the 2011 World Series, where he was one strike away from a championship before blowing the save against the St. Louis Cardinals.
Injuries Derail a Promising Career
After shifting to the starting rotation in 2012, Feliz suffered an elbow injury that led to Tommy John surgery, derailing his once-promising trajectory. Though he made sporadic returns to the majors, he never fully regained his dominant form, bouncing between teams including the Tigers, Pirates, Brewers, Royals, Phillies, and Dodgers.
What’s Left in the Tank?
At nearly 37 years old, Feliz’s chances of cracking Seattle’s roster remain uncertain. However, after posting solid numbers in Mexico over the last three seasons, the Mariners are giving him a shot with no guarantees.
For Rangers fans, Feliz’s career remains a case of “what could have been.” From his meteoric rise as a dominant closer to the struggles that followed, his return to the AL West is a reminder of both his brilliance and the disappointment of an unfinished legacy in Texas. Now, he gets one more shot to prove he still belongs in the big leagues.
