ARLINGTON, Texas — The Texas Rangers signed right-hander Trevor Williams to a major league contract Tuesday. The Washington Nationals had released him on Sunday.
Williams, 34, will wear No. 51. He said left-hander MacKenzie Gore, a teammate for three seasons in Washington, had been recruiting him to Texas all season.
“MacKenzie’s been blowing up my phone on how great Texas is,” Williams said at Globe Life Field on Tuesday. “It’s been a team that I’ve always wanted to come to. I’ve had contact with CY [president of baseball operations Chris Young] before, and I have nothing but respect for this organization. The reason why we play this game is to get to the playoffs and make a run for it. So when given that opportunity, you can’t pass that up. I’m just excited to be here and contribute as much as I can. I’m looking forward to getting out there.”
Trevor Williams’ Path From Washington To The Texas Rangers
The Rangers announced the signing at 10:30 a.m. CT, the day active rosters expand from 26 to 28 players. Washington designated Williams for assignment on Aug. 25, in the middle of a series against Texas, and released him Sunday.
Williams was in the second season of a two-year, $14 million contract with Washington, which remains responsible for the bulk of the salary. Texas owes him the prorated major league minimum for his time on the active roster.
A week passed between the designation and the signing. Williams went home to San Diego, where he grew up and pitched at Rancho Bernardo High School, and kept playing catch and throwing bullpens at a high school field.
“It’s a weird waiting period,” Williams explained. “When you’re at the park by yourself, not in a baseball setting, you’re kind of looking around like, ‘Why am I playing catch?’ But I stayed ready for opportunities like this. My bullpens went fine, and I stayed ready, and we’ll see what happens.”
Williams has pitched 8 times this season, all in relief, and has a 2.65 ERA. He allowed 15 hits and 5 earned runs in 17 innings, with 6 walks and 22 strikeouts. He worked two or more innings five times and was scoreless in six of the eight outings.
Williams had internal brace surgery on his right ulnar collateral ligament in July 2025 and missed the first half of this season. He made 6 rehab appearances in the Nationals minor league system. Washington activated him in late July.
His last outing at Globe Life Field came Aug. 18, when he worked a season-high 3.1 scoreless innings for the Nationals and allowed 2 hits with 1 walk and 5 strikeouts.
Williams owns a 3.66 ERA in 49 career relief appearances. Rangers manager Skip Schumaker managed the Miami Marlins in 2023 and 2024, while Williams was with Washington.
“I’ve seen him a number of years, obviously, [when I was] in Miami and him being in Washington,” Schumaker said. “He’s got a really unique fastball, tough to get to. Another veteran pitcher, multi innings, can provide a lot of depth in the bullpen, and also knows how to get big outs. A really good fit. I know MacKenzie is really good friends with him, and was pushing for him, so it’s good to have him. Knowing that guys liked him was obviously a plus.”
Texas has 24 games left in the regular season.
“We have 20-something games left, so it’s all hands on deck at this point,” Schumaker said. “However we can use him to help win games. That’s kind of everyone’s role right now.”
Williams is 53-65 with a 4.43 ERA over 11 seasons, making 227 appearances and 178 starts. He has thrown 1,026 innings and struck out 847.
Miami drafted Williams in the second round in 2013 out of Arizona State. He debuted with the Pittsburgh Pirates on Sept. 7, 2016, and pitched for Pittsburgh through 2020, the Chicago Cubs and New York Mets in 2021, the Mets in 2022, and Washington beginning in 2023.
MacKenzie Gore’s Season For The Texas Rangers
Gore, a 2025 All-Star, came to Texas from Washington on Jan. 22 in a trade for five prospects headlined by Gavin Fien, the No. 12 pick in the 2025 draft. Gore is making $5.6 million this season and is under club control through 2027. He is 7-10 with a 4.40 ERA in 28 starts, with 135 hits and 73 earned runs allowed in 149.1 innings, 56 walks, and 165 strikeouts.
Texas is 68-70 and second in the American League West. Gore starts against the Athletics on Tuesday, with first pitch at 7:05 p.m. CT.
