Major League Baseball

Rangers' Feldman gets 3-year deal

Published Apr. 2, 2010 1:00 a.m. ET

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Scott Feldman, who in less than a year has gone from long reliever to opening day starter, agreed with the Texas Rangers on Friday to a three-year contract worth nearly $14 million.

The 27-year-old Feldman is guaranteed $13,925,000 under the deal announced by the team before its exhibition game at Rangers Ballpark, where the right-hander will start the opener Monday against Toronto.

"He's a gamer, he has tremendous work ethic, he's learned how to use his stuff,'' manager Ron Washington said. "He's developed his changeup, he's developed his breaking ball, he knows how to use his stuff early in the count, he knows how to use it late.''

Feldman keeps the $2,425,000 salary he agreed to in January under a one-year agreement, and the sides added guaranteed years at $4.4 million for 2011 and $6.5 million for 2012. Texas gets a $9.25 million option for 2013 with a $600,000 buyout.

"We are excited to commit to Scott as a core member of our club,'' general manager Jon Daniels said.

Feldman started last season in the bullpen and was inserted into the rotation April 25. He went 17-8 with a 4.08 ERA in 31 starts and three relief appearances in his first full season.

The Rangers during the offseason signed free agent right-hander Rich Harden to a one-year deal that guarantees him $7.5 million, with the anticipation that he would be their No. 1 starter. Instead, Feldman will start the opener and Harden is scheduled for the second game after a rough spring when he went 1-3 with an 8.87 ERA in six starts.

Drafted in the 30th round in 2003, Feldman will become only the fifth pitcher signed and developed by the Rangers to start a season opener. The last was Kenny Rogers in 2004.

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