Rangers Avoid Arbitration with Josh Sborz Amidst Injury Recovery

The Texas Rangers announced they have avoided arbitration with reliever Josh Sborz by agreeing to a one-year, $1.1 million contract for the 2025 season. However, Sborz is expected to miss the first two to three months of the season while recovering from a recent shoulder debridement surgery, as reported by Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News.

Injury and Recovery
Sborz's shoulder issues have been a persistent problem, limiting him to just 16 1/3 innings and 17 appearances out of the bullpen last season. He was placed on the injured list four times, twice due to a right rotator cuff strain and twice for shoulder fatigue. After pitching just once post-August 7, Sborz sought clarity on his shoulder issues from Dr. Neal ElAttrache, leading to the decision for surgery.

Contract Details
In 2024, Sborz earned a salary of $1.025 million and was projected to receive a slight raise to $1.3 million in his second year of arbitration eligibility. The recent surgery likely influenced the minimal raise, providing Sborz with some financial security as he focuses on his rehab. Despite his injury, the Rangers decided against non-tendering him, likely due to the relatively low investment and Sborz’s control through the 2026 season.

Career Overview
Sborz, who turns 31 in December, has played parts of the last six MLB seasons. He debuted with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2019 before being acquired by the Rangers prior to the 2021 season. His tenure in Texas has seen mixed results, with a 3.97 ERA over 59 innings in 2021, but injuries contributing to higher ERAs of 6.45 in 2022 and 5.50 in 2023.

Overall, Sborz has a 4.86 ERA during his time with the Rangers, but his underlying metrics are more encouraging, with a 3.46 SIERA. His struggles have been partly due to home run issues and some unlucky batted-ball results, such as a .396 BABIP in 2022. Despite a 10% walk rate, Sborz has maintained a solid 28.7% strikeout rate, showcasing his ability to miss bats.

Playoff Performance
Despite an inconsistent regular season in 2023, Sborz excelled when it mattered most, posting a remarkable 0.75 ERA over 12 playoff innings to help the Rangers secure the World Series title.

​The Rangers and their fans will be eagerly awaiting Sborz’s return, hopeful that he can regain his form and contribute to another successful season.