The Texas Rangers announced Sunday that they claimed outfielder Dairon Blanco off waivers from the Kansas City Royals. To make space on the roster, the club placed left-handed pitcher Jordan Montgomery on the 60-day injured list.
Blanco, a 32-year-old Cuban outfielder who was designated for assignment by Kansas City last week, has appeared in 171 major league games over four seasons. During that span, he has hit .257 with seven home runs and 34 RBIs. Known for his speed, Blanco has stolen 59 bases in 73 attempts and has been used frequently as a pinch-runner, leading the majors with 64 such appearances since 2022.
Last season with Triple-A Omaha, Blanco hit .253 while swiping 32 bases.
Montgomery, meanwhile, signed a one-year contract with the Rangers last month as he continues to recover from his second elbow reconstruction surgery. The left-hander was part of Texas’ 2023 World Series championship team, going 4–2 with a 2.79 ERA in 11 regular-season games after joining the club at the trade deadline.
He also delivered two victories in the American League Championship Series, including the decisive Game 7 win against Houston. Following that season, Montgomery entered free agency and signed with the Arizona Diamondbacks, where he went 8–7 with a 6.23 ERA in 2024 before missing the entire 2025 campaign.
Across eight MLB seasons with the New York Yankees, St. Louis Cardinals, Texas Rangers, and Arizona Diamondbacks, Montgomery owns a 46–41 record with a 4.03 ERA in 166 appearances.
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