Rangers Sign Veteran Lefty Austin Gomber To Minor-League Deal, Spring Invite

The Texas Rangers added veteran left-hander Austin Gomber to their depth chart on a minor-league contract that includes an invitation to major-league spring training. The signing delivers a low-cost, experienced arm to a club that has been assembling rotation depth and options for the early season.

"Veteran left-hander Austin Gomber has signed a minor league contract with the Texas Rangers that includes an invitation to major league spring training," the Associated Press reported. The AP also noted, "The Rangers announced Gomber's deal on Thursday while also extending spring training invites to nine players from within the organization, including their top prospect, 19-year-old infielder Sebastian Walcott." Separately, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News wrote, "On Sunday, the Rangers agreed to a minor league deal with veteran left-handed starter Austin Gomber, who has spent the last five seasons with Colorado, two people with direct knowledge of the deal confirmed to The Dallas Morning News." The exact timing of the agreement and announcement differs between accounts and has not been confirmed in a team release.

Gomber, 32, was a fourth-round pick by the St. Louis Cardinals out of Florida Atlantic in the 2014 draft and has seven major-league seasons on his ledger. The lefty is 35-47 with a 5.08 ERA in 168 career games, including 124 starts, and split those seasons between St. Louis and Colorado. Colorado acquired Gomber in the six-player trade tied to Nolan Arenado before the 2021 spring training.

Health and performance trends pressured Gomber out of the majors last season. He missed the first 2 1/2 months with left shoulder soreness in spring training, then "went 0-7 with a 7.49 ERA in 12 starts for Colorado after his return in mid-June until being released in late August," the AP reported. Grant added multi-season context: "Gomber, 32, was 0-7 last year and has a 5.47 ERA in 361 innings over the last three seasons. It is the highest ERA in the majors among the 106 pitchers with at least 300 innings over that time." Grant also noted that Gomber "had a league average 100 ERA+ (according to Baseball-Reference) over 165 innings in 2024 before struggling more significantly last season."

Usage history factors into the Rangers' thinking. Grant reported Gomber "has pitched exclusively as a starter for Colorado over the last three seasons and could be insurance in April if the Rangers are dealing with an injury. He could also present an option as an early-season multi-inning reliever. He has 44 career games of relief experience." With the Rangers acquiring MacKenzie Gore to bolster the rotation, Grant framed this move as part of "the insurance policy portion of roster building."

The signing was announced as the club also extended spring invites to internal prospects, led by 19-year-old infielder Sebastian Walcott, who "hit .255 with 13 home runs, 59 RBIs, 70 walks and 32 stolen bases in 124 games for Double-A Frisco last season," per the AP. Rangers pitchers and catchers are scheduled to report Feb. 10 in Surprise, Arizona, with the first full-squad workout Feb. 15.

For Triple-A watchers and Rangers fans, Gomber represents a veteran arm with starting experience who can be optioned to Triple-A and provide immediate organizational depth. His performance in spring training will determine whether he projects as an emergency April starter, a multi-inning bullpen piece, or a veteran depth option at Triple-A.