The Texas Rangers have taken another step toward rebuilding an infield in flux, signing veteran infielder Jonah Bride to a minor-league deal as the club works to stabilize its depth ahead of the 2026 season.
Bride, who split last year between the Miami Marlins, the Minnesota Twins, and Triple-A St. Paul, arrives in Texas as a versatile option capable of handling multiple positions. His addition comes at a critical moment for the Rangers, who recently traded All-Star infielder Marcus Semien to the New York Mets in exchange for outfielder Brandon Nimmo, leaving a notable gap in the organization’s infield structure.
Bride’s Path to Texas
Bride opened the 2025 season with the Marlins before being acquired by Minnesota during an early-season injury stretch. With the Twins he appeared in 33 major-league games, hitting .208/.275/.236 while filling in at both third and first base. Although the offensive numbers dipped, Bride’s defensive flexibility earned him extended opportunities, especially during absences by Brooks Lee and Royce Lewis.
In four emergency relief appearances, Bride even took the mound during blowouts, logging six innings with two strikeouts.
After being optioned to Triple-A St. Paul late in the season, Bride’s production rebounded sharply. He hit .281/.423/.453 with nine doubles and five home runs, reasserting himself as a capable depth piece with on-base ability.
Reuniting With a Familiar Manager
Bride’s new opportunity in Texas brings him back under the guidance of manager Skip Schumaker, who oversaw one of the infielder’s strongest stretches in 2024 with Miami. That season, Bride delivered a .276/.357/.461 slash line across 71 games before injuries cut his year short.
Schumaker, who replaced Bruce Bochy as Rangers manager, spoke highly of Bride during his time in Miami and is expected to give him a legitimate look as Texas restructures its infield.
A Needed Boost for a Changing Roster
With Semien gone and several roles uncertain heading into 2026, the Rangers are searching for reliable contributors who can provide defensive coverage and competitive at-bats. Bride’s track record suggests he could fit either as organizational depth or as a potential bench option should he perform well in spring training.
Bride will report to the Rangers with a chance to compete for a major-league role immediately, giving Texas another piece of the “arsenal” it needs to fill an increasingly unstable infield picture.
