ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — The Texas Rangers continued their tilt toward a left-handed rotation Wednesday, agreeing with Darren Oliver on a $19 million, three-year contract.
Oliver, traded to St. Louis by Texas two years ago for shortstop Royce Clayton, joins a rotation that already had added left-handers Kenny Rogers and Justin Thompson. [ From Joe: We also traded Fernando Tatis with Oliver for Clayton & Sottlemyre ]
Rogers was signed Dec. 29 and Thompson was acquired in the November trade that sent Juan Gonzalez to Detroit. Texas had only four games started by left-handers last season.
Oliver’s deal includes a $6 million signing bonus, with $1.5 million payable in each of the 2001 and 2002 seasons and the remaining $3 million in 2003.
He’ll make $3 million this year and $5 million each of the next two season.
Oliver was 9-9 with a 4.26 ERA in 30 starts for St. Louis last season.
Oliver, 29, came up through the Rangers’ organization, reaching the majors in 1993. At one point he was being groomed as a closer, but his future would be as a starter.
In parts of six seasons with Texas, Oliver was 41-27 with a 4.68 ERA. He struck out 365 and walked 269 in 580 2-3 innings.
ARLINGTON, TEXAS (TICKER) — Free agent lefthander Darren Oliver is headed back to the Texas Rangers.
Filling a need with the departure of Aaron Sele, the two-time defending American League Western Division champions today signed Oliver to a three-year contract. The Rangers have a news conference at 6 p.m. EST to make the official announcement.
Financial terms were not disclosed. Oliver earned $3.55 million with the St. Louis Cardinals last season.
Oliver, 29, spent parts of six years with the Rangers, posting a career-high 13 wins in 1997 before being shipped to the Cardinals on July 31, 1998 with third baseman Fernando Tatis for shortstop Royce Clayton and right-hander Todd Stottlemyre.
Oliver was second on the Cardinals in wins last season, going 9-9 with a 4.26 ERA in 35 games, including 30 starts. He allowed 197 hits over 196 1/3 innings with 74 walks and 119 strikeouts.
Sele signed a two-year contract with the Seattle Mariners on Monday after a previous deal with the Baltimore Orioles fell through. He won 37 games for the Rangers over the past two seasons, including a 18-9 record in 1999.