'Whatever it takes': Robertson focused on a Series title

David Robertson has saved 175 games during his 15-year career. He’s been selected to an All-Star team, struck out nearly 12 batters per nine innings and been a consistent presence at the back ends of some pretty good bullpens.

He’s also won a World Series championship. And with his 39th birthday just weeks away, that’s the only thing Robertson is focusing on this season.

“I think everybody in this clubhouse is looking to repeat,” Robertson said before the Rangers’ 8-1 win over a split-squad Reds club on Wednesday afternoon at Goodyear Ballpark.

“They seem very confident, very relaxed, and they want to go run it back again. I want to be a part of that.”

Robertson signed a one-year deal worth a guaranteed $11.5 million with the Rangers in late-January, joining the reigning World Series champs to help solidify a bullpen that struggled at times during the 2023 season.

Texas also signed right-hander Kirby Yates, who had a solid season for the Braves last year.

Robertson’s 175 career saves are the most of any pitcher on the Rangers’ roster by a wide margin, but he’s not concerned with the role manager Bruce Bochy and pitching coach Mike Maddux carve out for him.

“I feel really good about the situation here, especially coming in here with Kirby to help fill some of the gaps that they had in place last year,” Robertson said. “I've said it openly in the past that I don't care when I pitch -- if I'm closing it down or throwing the seventh inning; whatever it takes to help us win games.

“I think a lot of the guys on this team are in the same boat; they're willing to take the ball at any point.”

Robertson was part of the setup crew for the Yankees’ 2009 championship team, later getting an opportunity to close for New York in 2014 after Mariano Rivera retired.

He signed a multi-year deal with the White Sox at the end of that season, notching 84 saves for Chicago from 2015-17, before being traded back to the Yankees.

Robertson signed a two-year deal with the Phillies prior to the 2019 season, but he pitched only seven games before suffering an elbow injury that ultimately required Tommy John surgery.

After a stint with Team USA during the 2021 Olympics, Robertson pitched 12 games for the Rays in late-2021, helping him land a one-year deal with the Cubs prior to the ‘22 campaign.

It’s been a bit of a carousel ride ever since.

After signing a one-year deal with the Cubs for the 2022 season, Robertson was traded to the Phillies at the Trade Deadline, helping Philadelphia make its run to the World Series. He signed another one-year deal prior to the ‘23 season, this time with the Mets, then found himself on the move again before the Deadline, traded to the Marlins.

But Robertson, who had an exceptional run in New York (2.05 ERA in 40 appearances), struggled in Miami, posting a 5.06 ERA in 22 appearances with the Marlins.

“I think in the second half, I just became a little bit too predictable and got overexposed against a lot of teams that I had already played a lot against with the Mets,” Robertson said. “It was tough. Sometimes your mindset makes a difference when you're pitching, and I was not in the best mindset when I was in Miami. I was there trying to help win and help get us to playoffs, but I wasn't able to.

“It just was a big change of scenery for me; it was my fourth team in two years, so a lot of moving parts, a lot of things going on outside the field, but I still tried to keep it together between the lines. I think it may have had a little bit of effect on my outcomes in games.”

Now pitching for his fifth team since the start of 2022, Robertson has put that Miami stint behind him, reenergized by a clubhouse seeking to become the game’s first repeat champs since the Yankees won three straight titles from 1998-2000.

“We have a great group here,” Robertson said. “As far as the hitters go, everyone seems like they have a great idea of what their approach at the plate is and know what they need to do when they get their at-bats.

“As far as the pitching goes, everybody just seems very calm and relaxed for a team that's looking to repeat. It seems like they know what they're good at and they're going to be able to go out there and get it done.”