Right-hander Nabil Crismatt has been released from the Rangers’ Triple-A Round Rock affiliate, according to Crismatt’s transactions page at MLB.com. He had been on the full-season injured list owing to elbow surgery during spring training. He is now a free agent and able to sign with any club, though he can expect a minor-league rehab deal at best.

Crismatt signed a minor league pact with Texas back in December, the latest in a series of minor league deals for the out-of-options righty. He spent 2025 with the Diamondbacks and Phillies organizations, throwing a combined 102 1/3 innings over 20 starts with a 3.96 ERA at Triple-A. Crismatt also had a 3.71 ERA in eight appearances (five starts) for Arizona at the big league level. He didn’t strike many hitters out, but he was excellent in terms of his control, keeping his walk rate at or below 6.0% in the Majors and minors.

Crismatt has a 3.71 ERA in 211 career innings, with the overwhelming majority coming out of the bullpen. He was quietly effective with the Padres from 2021-22, posting a 14.3% K-BB rate and a 3.39 ERA over 148 2/3 innings, which ranked third-most among qualified relievers in that span. He also excelled at keeping the ball on the ground. Crismatt generated grounders at a 50.2% rate from 2021-22 and has an above-average 49.2% rate for his career.

Crismatt was a candidate for the fifth spot in the Rangers’ rotation before undergoing an unspecified UCL surgery during spring training. If he underwent an internal brace procedure, he could possibly be ready for next year’s camp. If it was Tommy John surgery, that timeline would be pushed back to late April or early May 2027, assuming no setbacks in his rehab. Crismatt only averages in the upper 80s with his fastball, but he was effective with the Padres from 2021-22 and did well in the Majors last year. He should garner some interest as a reclamation project once healthy.

Photo courtesy of Arianna Grainey, Imagn Images