The Texas Rangers have made their first move this winter.
Texas and right-handed reliever Kirby Yates agreed to a one-year deal on Tuesday, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports. Financial terms of the deal weren't immediately known, and the deal is pending a physical.
The Rangers went into the offseason looking to upgrade a bullpen that struggled throughout last season, finishing 24th in MLB in ERA (4.77). Throughout the Rangers' World Series run, manager Bruce Bochy relied on three of his regular relievers - Aroldis Chapman, Josh Sborz and Jose Leclerc - and back-of-the-rotation starters in key spots out of the bullpen.
Yates, 36, appeared in 61 games out of the Atlanta Braves bullpen last season. He went 7-2 with a 3.28 ERA over 60.1 innings pitched.
Yates has a 3.53 career ERA in 361 appearances across nine MLB seasons. He was an All-Star and led MLB with 41 saves when he pitched for the San Diego Padres in 2019. He underwent Tommy John surgery in 2021 before signing a two-year deal with the Braves, including a club option, which Atlanta declined after the season.