The Texas Rangers announced Thursday that the club has signed right-handed pitcher Brandon McCarthy to a contract for the 2009 season.
McCarthy, who made a donation to the Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation as part of his contract, had been eligible for arbitration for the first time. Financial terms were not disclosed.
With the signing of McCarthy, Texas still has three remaining arbitration-eligible players: outfielder Marlon Byrd, right-handed pitcher Frank Francisco, and left-handed pitcher C.J. Wilson.
McCarthy, 25, went 1-1 with a 4.09 ERA (10 ER/22.0 IP) in 5 games/starts for Texas last season. He spent much of the season on the disabled list with right forearm inflammation. He made his last appearance on Sept. 15 and missed the rest of the year with a strained flexor tendon in his right middle finger. McCarthy combined to go 1-1 with a 3.41 ERA (12 ER/31.2 IP) over 7 rehabilitation starts with the Arizona League Rangers (Rookie) and Oklahoma (AAA) last year.