The Texas Rangers are making an early September push to strengthen their pitching staff, and they have turned to a veteran arm with plenty of major-league experience.
Texas announced on September 1 that it had signed right-handed pitcher Trevor Williams to a Major League contract, adding the 34-year-old reliever as MLB rosters expanded from 26 to 28 players. The Rangers also recalled versatile infielder/outfielder Cam Cauley from Triple-A Round Rock. The moves brought Texas to the 28-player active-roster limit.
Williams joins the Rangers shortly after being released by the Washington Nationals. Washington designated him for assignment on August 25 before granting him his release on August 30. He had been playing under the second year of a two-year, $14 million contract with the Nationals.
Despite his release, Williams was pitching effectively when Washington made the decision to move on. After returning from elbow surgery, he appeared in eight games for the Nationals between July 29 and August 23, all out of the bullpen. During that stretch, he posted a 2.65 ERA over 17 innings, striking out 22 batters while walking only six. He was scoreless in six of his eight appearances.
His performance against the Rangers shortly before his release may have caught Texas’ attention. On August 18 at Globe Life Field, Williams delivered 3⅓ scoreless innings and struck out five hitters against the team he would soon join.
Williams also brings something the Rangers could badly use down the stretch: length. Although he has spent his career primarily as a starter, he has worked exclusively as a reliever since returning from surgery. Six of his eight appearances for Washington lasted more than one inning, giving him the ability to cover multiple innings when the bullpen is under pressure.
That versatility could make him particularly useful for Texas as the regular season enters its final month. The Rangers have dealt with injuries in their pitching staff, including relievers Peyton Gray and Cole Winn, creating an increased need for pitchers who can provide multiple innings without forcing the club to burn through its bullpen.
Williams missed much of the first half of 2026 while recovering from internal brace surgery on his right ulnar collateral ligament. He completed six minor-league rehabilitation appearances before returning to Washington’s major-league roster in late July.
The Rangers are hoping the veteran can carry over the effectiveness he showed after returning from the injury.
Williams has spent parts of 11 major-league seasons with the Pittsburgh Pirates, Chicago Cubs, New York Mets and Washington Nationals. In 227 career games, including 178 starts, he has a 53-65 record with a 4.43 ERA and 1.373 WHIP. He has been considerably better when used as a reliever, posting a 3.66 career ERA in 49 relief appearances.
The signing also gives Williams a fresh opportunity after a disappointing ending in Washington. Rather than remain without a team heading into September, he immediately lands with a Rangers club that is trying to strengthen its roster for the postseason race.
Texas will likely use him primarily as a long reliever, although his history as a starter gives the club another potential option if it needs someone to cover multiple innings or make an emergency start.
The timing could hardly be more important. With September underway, every game carries additional weight for teams competing for postseason positions. The Rangers need reliable pitching depth, and Williams’ recent 2.65 ERA suggests he could provide exactly that if he continues to pitch at the level he showed with Washington.
The addition of Williams is therefore more than simply a September roster move. Texas is betting that an experienced pitcher who was recently released can become a valuable piece of its bullpen during the most important part of the season.
For Williams, meanwhile, this is an opportunity to quickly turn the page on his departure from Washington. He now has a chance to help a postseason contender and potentially play a meaningful role in Texas’ final push.
The Rangers are clearly looking for every possible advantage as the season enters its closing stretch, and adding a veteran with Williams’ experience, recent success and ability to cover multiple innings could prove to be a surprisingly important move.
