Rangers sign veteran OF Ludwick

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 4:13 p.m. ET

share

facebookxredditlink

foxsports

The lengthy list of candidates for playing time in left field for the Texas Rangers has another new name in Ryan Ludwick.

The Rangers signed the veteran to a minor-league deal Wednesday that includes an invitation to spring training. The former All-Star, who began his career with the Rangers, will make a base salary of $1.75 million of he makes the club.

Ludwick, 36, hit .244 with Cincinnati last season with nine home runs and 45 RBI in 112 games and made 91 starts in left field.  He was with Cincinnati for three seasons and has also played with Cleveland, St. Louis, San Diego and Pittsburgh. He was an All-Star for St. Louis in 2008 when he had 37 home runs and 113 RBI. He has 154 homers in a career that’s seen him hit .260 in 1,065 games.

The right-handed hitting Ludwick has made more than 400 starts in both left field and right field. He began his career with the Rangers in 2002 and was traded to Cleveland in the summer of 2003.

Texas general manager Jon Daniels believes Ludwick can still player either corner or see time at designated hitter if he makes the Rangers.

The options for the Rangers in left field include Ryan Rua, Jake Smolinski, Mitch Moreland, Carlos Peguero and now Ludwick. 

share