Arlington, Texas - The Texas Rangers added pitching depth on Wednesday by acquiring right-hander Carter Baumler from the Pittsburgh Pirates in exchange for right-hander Jaiker Garcia and cash considerations. Baumler had been selected earlier in the day by Pittsburgh from the Baltimore Orioles during the Major League phase of the Rule 5 Draft, and he now moves directly onto Texas’ 40-man roster. The Rangers’ roster sits at 35 players.
Baumler, 23, put together an impressive 2025 season across three levels in the Orioles’ system. He logged a 2.04 ERA over 39.2 innings with Rookie-level FCL Orioles, High-A Aberdeen, and Double-A Chesapeake. He didn’t allow a single home run and posted a 10.4 strikeout-per-nine rate along with a 1.084 WHIP, one of the best marks among Baltimore minor leaguers with at least 30 innings.
Baltimore originally drafted Baumler in the 5th round in 2020. Across four pro seasons, he owns a 3.05 ERA with 104 strikeouts in 88.2 innings. His development was delayed when he underwent Tommy John surgery in late 2020.
Heading to Pittsburgh is 20-year-old right-hander Jaiker Garcia, who has spent his career in the Rangers’ system after signing out of Venezuela in 2022. Garcia posted a 4.66 ERA in 19.1 innings with the ACL Rangers this year and carries a 7.22 career ERA after transitioning from a position player to pitching in 2023.
Texas made one selection of its own during the minor league phase of the Rule 5 Draft, taking right-hander Jonathan Brand from the Red Sox. Brand, 25, posted a combined 3.16 ERA over three Red Sox affiliates in 2025 and has been steady throughout his four years in Boston’s system.
Two Rangers minor leaguers were selected by other clubs: RHP Jackson Kelley was taken by the Chicago White Sox, and RHP Kyle Larsen was selected by Pittsburgh. Kelley was effective out of the bullpen for Double-A Frisco this season, while Larsen split time between the ACL and Single-A Hickory.
The Rule 5 Draft allows teams with open 40-man roster spots to select eligible players from other clubs. Major league selections must remain on the acquiring club’s active roster for the entire upcoming season or be offered back to their original team. Minor league phase selections, like Brand, join their new organization without roster restrictions.
