Have the Rangers found a closer?

When they signed Kirby Yates early in the offseason, it didn’t get the fanfare that Josh Hader’s or Craig Kimbrel’s signings got.

But Yates had been a successful closer. An All-Star, in fact. He made the All-Star team with San Diego in 2019 as a closer, racking up forty-one saves. Then, he got hurt in 2020, had Tommy John surgery in 2021. Got into only nine games with Atlanta in 2022, and had a good season as a setup man for the Braves last year.

The budget-minded Rangers snagged him, knowing that he would be a huge upgrade in their bullpen as a setup reliever, or even better, the replacement for Jose Leclerc.

That seems to be what has transpired. Yates got his first save as a Ranger last night in relatively easy fashion, getting the Tigers out one-two-three in the bottom of the ninth. 

It’s still too early to anoint him the closer. But it’s comforting to know he’s there, he’s had success, and he got it done last night. 

The Rangers bullpen could use some success stories.

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