Texas Rangers keep veteran speedster Dairon Blanco in the organization after he clears waivers.
The Texas Rangers have outrighted veteran outfielder Dairon Blanco to Triple-A Round Rock after he cleared waivers, allowing the club to retain him as organizational depth following a recent roster move.
Blanco, who was designated for assignment to make room for Andrew McCutchen on the Opening Day roster, had the option to elect free agency due to a prior outright earlier in his career.
Instead, the 33-year-old chose to remain with Texas and will report to Round Rock in hopes of earning another opportunity at the major-league level.
Known primarily for his speed and defensive versatility, Blanco has carved out a role as a reliable bench contributor during his time in the big leagues. Across his career, he has been an efficient basestealer and a capable defender across the outfield, providing value even without standout offensive production.
Blanco’s path to Texas has been brief but eventful. After spending his major-league career with the Kansas City Royals, he was squeezed off their roster following an offseason addition of Starling Marte.
The Rangers claimed him shortly thereafter, though his stay on the 40-man roster lasted just over two weeks before another roster decision forced the team’s hand.
Despite having minor-league options remaining, Blanco went unclaimed on waivers, signaling limited immediate demand across the league. By staying with Texas, he avoids testing a market that likely would have offered only minor-league deals and instead maintains familiarity within the organization.
The Rangers’ current outfield mix made Blanco somewhat expendable. With established contributors like Brandon Nimmo, Evan Carter, and Wyatt Langford already in place, along with McCutchen and several utility options competing for at-bats, roster spots are at a premium.
Even so, Blanco provides experienced depth at the Triple-A level, joining a group of non-roster players with major league experience. If injuries arise or performance dips at the big league level, his speed and defensive skill set could quickly put him back in consideration for a call-up later in the season.
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