Rule 5 Pick Carter Baumler Working Way Towards Texas Rangers’ Bullpen

SURPRISE, AZ: Pitcher Carter Baumler of the Texas Rangers pitches in a World Baseball Classic exhibition game against Team Brazil at Surprise Stadium on March 4, 2026. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images) Getty Images Carter Baumler is showing this spring what he can do when healthy. The Texas Rangers are cautiously excited by it, the Pittsburgh Pirates have trader’s remorse and the Baltimore Orioles are keeping their fingers crossed they can get him back.

The Rangers are excited that the oft-injured right-hander will make the Opening Day roster and become a key pitcher during the 2026 season. The Pirates are possibly regretting the trade that sent Baumler to Texas shortly after Pittsburgh picked him in the 2025 Rule 5 Draft last December. They like Jaiker Garcia, the 21-year-old pitching prospect they got in return and may be delighted down the road.

He’s a project with command issues, however. The pitching-needy Orioles hold hope that the Rangers decide not to keep Baumler on their big-league roster all season. Any Rule 5 selection must stay with their current big-league team all year or be offered back to their 2025 organization for $50,000.

MESA, AZ: Manager Skip Schumaker of the Texas Rangers makes a pitching change against the Athletics at Hohokam Stadium on February 26, 2026. (Photo by David Durochik/Diamond Images via Getty Images) Diamond Images/Getty Images Listening to Rangers manager Skip Schumaker, that’s not likely to happen. “We got him for a reason,” he told reporters early in spring camp.