Rangers Add Dairon Blanco from Royals, Place Jordan Montgomery on 60-Day IL

The Texas Rangers made a significant roster move on Sunday, claiming outfielder Dairon Blanco off waivers from the Kansas City Royals. To accommodate the 32-year-old Cuban, the team placed left-hander Jordan Montgomery on the 60-day injured list.

Blanco, who was designated for assignment by the Royals just last week, brings a solid track record to the Rangers. Over four major league seasons, he has posted a .257 batting average, hitting seven home runs and driving in 34 runs across 171 games. His speed is particularly noteworthy; he has successfully stolen 59 bases in 73 attempts, and since 2022, he leads the majors with 64 pinch-running appearances.

In the previous season with Triple-A Omaha, Blanco maintained a .253 batting average while swiping 32 bases, showcasing his ability to impact games with his legs.

Meanwhile, Montgomery’s placement on the injured list comes as he continues to recover from a second elbow reconstruction surgery. The left-hander signed a one-year deal with the Rangers last month, following a pivotal role in the team’s 2023 World Series championship run. During that season, he achieved a 4-2 record with a 2.79 ERA in 11 regular-season appearances after being acquired at the trade deadline. Montgomery also played a crucial part in the AL Championship Series, winning two games, including the decisive Game 7 against Houston.

After his successful stint with the Rangers, Montgomery entered free agency and signed with the Diamondbacks, where he posted an 8-7 record with a 6.23 ERA in 2024. Over his eight-year career, which includes time with the New York Yankees, St. Louis, Texas, and Arizona, Montgomery has compiled a 46-41 record with a 4.03 ERA in 166 games.

Note: This recap is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting.