RANGERS AGREE TO TERMS WITH LHP JAKE DIEKMAN
ON 2016 CONTRACT
Rangers sign RHP Steve Johnson to minor league contract with spring training invite
Arlington, Texas — The Texas Rangers this evening announced that the club has agreed to terms with left-handed pitcher Jake Diekman on a one-year contract for the 2016 season. No further terms were disclosed.
Diekman had been eligible for salary arbitration. With this agreement, the Rangers have just first baseman Mitch Moreland still eligible for salary arbitration.
Diekman combined to go 2-1, 4.01 in 67 relief appearances with Philadelphia and Texas in 2015. Acquired from the Phillies in an eight-player trade on July 31, the left-hander posted a 2.08 ERA over 26 outings with the Rangers the rest of the year, ending the season with nine scoreless appearances (7.1 IP). Diekman is 7-10, 3.65 in 217 major league games with Philadelphia and Texas.
The Rangers also announced that the club has agreed to terms with right-handed pitcher Steve Johnson on a minor league contract with an invitation to major league spring training. Johnson, 28, was 4-1, 2.30 in 32 games/3 starts at Triple-A Norfolk and compiled a 10.13 ERA in six relief appearances with Baltimore in September. He was not offered a 2016 contract by the Orioles in December. Johnson has a career major league record of 5-1, 4.25 over parts of the 2012, 2013, and 2015 seasons with Baltimore.
