As Texas Rangers fans, we’ve all seen how much the bullpen needs help—and it looks like the front office is making moves to address it. The Rangers are closing in on a deal with 24-year-old right-handed reliever Luis Curvelo, according to Jon Morosi of MLB Network. This isn’t just any signing; it’s expected to be a major league contract, showing that the Rangers see real potential in this young arm.
Just last week, Morosi described Curvelo as “one of the most popular free agents” at the GM Meetings in San Antonio.
That doesn’t mean he was the top reliever available, but it does mean teams saw him as a low-cost, high-upside addition—exactly the type of bullpen help the Rangers could use.
Curvelo, a Venezuela native, signed with the Mariners in 2018 as an international free agent and has worked his way up through the minors, reaching Double-A Arkansas in 2024. This past season, he had a breakout year with a 2.57 ERA over 66 2/3 innings in 49 games, his best performance yet. His strikeout rate was an impressive 30.6%, and his FIP sat at a solid 3.03. Sure, he had a bit of luck on his side with a .227 BABIP and a low 7.8% home-run-to-fly-ball ratio, so some regression wouldn’t be surprising. Still, those numbers show a reliever who can miss bats and avoid costly mistakes.
Curvelo isn’t your traditional top prospect; he’s been a full-time reliever since he was 18, which is why he flew under the radar in Seattle’s system. But his slider has earned praise from analysts like Eric Longenhagen of FanGraphs, who ranked him 31st in the Mariners organization this past July. While Longenhagen noted that Curvelo’s fastball isn’t his strongest weapon, his slider alone makes him a worthwhile addition. And it’s worth noting that Curvelo was even better in the back half of the season, posting a 1.86 ERA, a 2.44 FIP, and a 33.6% strikeout rate over his final 29 innings.
This move feels crucial for the Rangers, especially considering last season’s bullpen struggles. By the numbers, Texas ranked near the bottom in most relief pitching categories: 26th in ERA, 23rd in SIERA, and 25th in WAR according to FanGraphs. Even with solid showings from veterans like Kirby Yates and David Robertson, who are now free agents, the bullpen left a lot to be desired. Adding Curvelo to the mix offers a shot at fixing some of these issues without the cost of a proven big leaguer.
For us as fans, Curvelo represents the kind of high-potential signing that could turn into a real asset if he keeps building on his 2024 performance. Here’s hoping he finds his groove in Texas and helps the Rangers’ bullpen get back on track.
Update November 13, 2024
The Texas announced that Luis Curvelo has been signed to a Major League contract.
