Relief pitchers Ryan Brasier and Josh Sborz, two veteran righthanders who have been pitching for Round Rock on minor league deals, have each exercised their right to opt out of their contracts and become free agents.
June 1 is the date specified in the current CBA as the final date when a player who has at least six years of service time, as Brasier does, and who signed a minor league contract, may automatically opt out of his contract. Sborz does not have the service time accrued to automatically have the contractual
right to opt out, but presumably it was included in his minor league deal with the Rangers.
The 38 year old Brasier has put up a 3.97 ERA in 22.2 innings over 22 appearances for the Express, with 23 Ks against 6 walks. He put up a 4.50 ERA and 3.17 FIP in 26 innings for the Cubs last season.
Sborz did not pitch in the majors in 2025 due to his recuperating from shoulder surgery. He had a 5.25 ERA in 12 innings over 12 appearances between Frisco and Round Rock last year. In 16.1 innings over 15 appearances for Round Rock and Frisco this year, Sborz has allowed 13 runs, striking out 17 batters and walking 12. Reports indicate that he has still not recovered the velocity he had pre-surgery.
My guess is that the Rangers would be happy to re-sign either player to a minor league contract, should they decide that there isn’t a better opportunity elsewhere.
