The Texas Rangers added veteran catcher Austin Wynns on Tuesday, agreeing to a minor-league contract as the club looks to strengthen its catching depth amid injuries at the major league level.
Wynns, 35, is now joining his fourth organization of the 2026 season and his third team within the American League West.
He opened the year with the Athletics but was designated for assignment and released in May after struggling offensively. Before the season, he had agreed to a $1.1 million arbitration contract with the club.
After entering free agency, Wynns signed a minor-league deal with the Los Angeles Angels and was later traded to the Atlanta Braves for cash considerations.
His time in Atlanta was brief, as the Braves released him following the return of rookie catcher Drake Baldwin from injury, allowing Wynns to once again test the free-agent market.
Over parts of eight major league seasons, Wynns has appeared in 299 games and compiled a .228 batting average with 19 home runs, 32 doubles, and a .228/.273/.342 slash line across 840 plate appearances.
His offensive numbers this season have been particularly underwhelming, with just four hits in 53 at-bats over 57 plate appearances. However, those struggles have been impacted by an unusually low .103 batting average on balls in play, well below both the league average and his career norm.
While offense has never been his calling card, Wynns has built a reputation as a reliable defensive catcher.
Throughout his professional career, he has been praised for his game management, pitch-blocking skills, and ability to control the running game, consistently throwing out more than 30% of attempted base stealers at both the major and minor league levels.
The Rangers currently have Kyle Higashioka and Elias Díaz handling catching duties while Danny Jansen recovers from a forearm injury.
Bringing in Wynns provides the organization with experienced depth and another veteran option behind the plate as the club navigates its injury situation.
