The Texas Rangers announced Tuesday that the club signed right-handed pitcher Frank Francisco to a contract for the 2009 season.
Francisco had been eligible for arbitration.
Francisco was 3-5 with a 3.13 ERA and five saves in 58 games for the Rangers in 2008. All five saves came in the final five weeks of the season and he goes into camp as the leading candidate to be the Rangers closer.
With the signing of Francisco, Texas still has two remaining arbitration-eligible players: outfielder Marlon Byrd and left-handed pitcher C.J. Wilson.
MLB.com reports the Rangers are close to finishing off another contract.
T.R. Sullivan writes the team is about to finalize a non-roster contract with free-agent shortstop Omar Vizquel.
Vizquel will come into camp primarily as a utility infielder and backup to rookie shortstop Elvis Andrus. Vizquel is also on Venezuela's provisional roster for the World Baseball Classic.
