ARLINGTON, TEXAS (TICKER) — Lee Stevens avoided arbitration with the Texas Rangers today, agreeing to terms on a one-year contract after becoming the third lefthanded hitter in franchise history with multiple 20-home run seasons.
Financial terms were not disclosed for the 6-4 first baseman-outfielder, who collected $1.2 million in 1998.
For the second straight year, the 31-year-old Stevens provided the Rangers with a formidable lefthanded bat, hitting .265 with 20 homers and 59 RBI in 120 games. He joined Pete O’Brien and Rafael Palmeiro as the only Rangers’ lefties to have more than one season with 20 or more home runs.
Stevens excelled in 1997, his first full season with Texas, setting career highs in all offensive categories, including average (.300), homers (21) and RBI (74).
A first-round pick of the California Angels in 1986, Stevens showed potential in their chain from 1987-91, hitting at least 16 homers four times. But he floundered in 191 games at the major-league level and was dealt to Toronto in 1993.
Since then, Stevens has been released three times and signed by four teams, including the Blue Jays, Angels, Cincinnati and finally Texas. He also spent two seasons in Japan, hitting 43 homers in 222 games.
A veteran of just over four major-league seasons, Stevens is a .256 career hitter with 58 homers and 223 RBI.
