By STEPHEN HAWKINS
AP Sports Writer
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) -- Former NL Cy Young Award winner Brandon Webb and left-handed reliever Arthur Rhodes are now part of the Texas Rangers pitching staff.
The AL champions, who lost former Cy Young winner Cliff Lee in free agency, introduced the two pitchers Monday. Webb and Rhodes agreed to one-year contracts last month but had to pass physicals to complete the deals.
Webb, the 2006 Cy Young winner with Arizona who hasn't pitched since the 2009 season opener because of shoulder surgery, will get $3 million with a a chance to earn $5 million in bonuses.
Rhodes, the 41-year-old reliever coming off one of his best seasons in a 20-year major league career, will get $3.9 million with a club option for $4 million in 2012 that could become guaranteed.
Before shoulder surgery in 2009, Webb was one of the NL's best pitchers. He pitched in the instructional league in October.
"I feel good right now, feel good where I'm at," said Webb, who threw four innings over 1 weeks in instructional league. "I felt comfortable on the mound each time I went out there. My velocity got better and my stuff got better. Just taking it from there, I feel like I'm going to be ready for spring training for sure."
The right-hander was 16-8 with a 3.10 ERA the year he won the Cy Young Award, then improved his victory total in each of the next two seasons when he was also an All-Star. He was 18-10 with a 3.01 ERA in 2007, then 22-7 with a 3.30 ERA in 2008 for the Diamondbacks, the team that drafted him in the eighth round in 2000.
But after pitching more than 200 innings in five consecutive seasons, Webb developed shoulder trouble that eventually resulted in surgery. The Diamondbacks exercised their $8.5 million option to keep him under contract for 2010, but he never made it back after throwing only four innings in the 2009 season opener.
Webb's surgery in August 2009 was done by Dr. Keith Meister, the Rangers' team doctor.
General manager Jon Daniels said the Rangers were encouraged by how Webb felt and that Meister felt the pitcher "was where he should have been from a conditioning standpoint. ... All of the checkpoints you'd look at were there."
In 199 career games, all with the Diamondbacks since 2003, Webb is 87-62 with a 3.27 ERA, 1,065 strikeouts and 435 walks.
Rhodes appeared in 69 games for Cincinnati, his most since 2001, despite being bothered at time by a left foot problem. He had a 2.29 ERA in 55 innings with 50 strikeouts and 18 walks.
"It feels great to be a Ranger right now," said Rhodes, who was born in Waco, about 100 miles from Rangers Ballpark, though he currently lives in Maryland. "I'm feeling good and read to go."
The left-hander has an 84-66 record with 32 saves and a 4.06 ERA in 849 career games for Baltimore (1991-99), Seattle (2000-03, 2008), Oakland (2004), Cleveland (2005), Philadelphia (2006), Florida (2008) and Cincinnati (2009-10). He missed the 2007 season after Tommy John surgery.
Lee signed a $120 million, five-year deal to return to the Philadelphia Phillies, who had traded him at the end of the 2009 season to Seattle. The Rangers had offered the ace left-hander $138 million over six seasons with the possibility of a seventh season.
To make room on the 40-man roster, catcher Max Ramirez and left-handed reliever Clay Rapada were designated for assignment. The Rangers have 10 days to trade, release or outright Ramirez and Rapada to the minor leagues.
