AP source: Choo agrees to 7-year deal with Texas

Published Dec. 21, 2013 4:32 p.m. ET

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Free agent outfielder Choo Shin-soo of South Korea agreed to a $130 million, seven-year contract with the Texas Rangers, a person familiar with the deal told The Associated Press on Saturday.

The person spoke on condition of anonymity because there was no official announcement about the deal that is pending a physical for Choo. That person said the physical is expected to be done before Christmas, and that any formal introduction in Texas likely wouldn't come until after the holiday on Wednesday.

The deal came a month after the Rangers acquired five-time All-Star first baseman Prince Fielder in a trade with Detroit for second baseman Ian Kinsler, their primary leadoff hitter.

Texas now gets the best offensive player left in free agency, with both additions to be under contract through the 2020 season.

Choo's deal, worth about $18.6 million per season, is the third highest this offseason. Second baseman Robinson Cano got $240 million over 10 years from Seattle and outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury, like Choo, a client of agent Scott Boras, signed a $153 million, seven-year contract with the New York Yankees.

Choo could be at the top or in the middle of the Texas lineup. He was Cincinnati's leadoff hitter for 143 games last season, when he had a .423 on-base percentage with 20 stolen bases and 21 home runs.

The Rangers missed the playoffs for the first time in four years, with 730 runs scored their fewest in a non-strike season since 1992. Texas, which went to its only two World Series in 2010 and 2011 and lost in the American League's first wildcard game in 2012, lost at home to Tampa Bay in a wild-card tiebreaker.

Choo's deal calls for salaries of $14 million in 2014 and 2015, $21 million in 2016 and 2017, and $20 million in each of the last three years of the deal. He can earn a bonus for finishing in the top five of the AL MVP balloting -- from $250,000 as the winner to $50,000 for fifth place. He would get a $150,000 bonus for being a World Series MVP, and an additional $100,000 for being an AL championship series MVP or an All-Star, or for winning a Silver Slugger or Gold Glove award.

There will also be a limited no-trade clause, with Choo able each year to submit a list of 10 teams he can't be dealt to without his consent.

Choo has a .288 career batting average and .389 OBP with 104 home runs and 427 RBIs in 853 major league games for Seattle (2005-06), Cleveland (2006-12) and Cincinnati. The 31-year-old had at least 20 homers and 20 stolen bases three times, including last season.

While Choo started 150 games for the Reds in center field, he will likely play left field for Texas. The Rangers have Leonys Martin in center and Alex Rios in right.