DALLAS (Ticker) — Third baseman Ken Caminiti, who missed the last month of the season while being evaluated for a chemical dependency, has agreed to a two-year, $9.5 million contract with the Texas Rangers, according to an ESPN.com report.
Caminiti, who was productive when healthy last season, hit .303 with 15 homers and 45 RBI in 59 games. His season was shortened by a right wrist injury and came to an end when he voluntarily entered a substance-abuse dependency program for an undisclosed problem in September.
Caminiti, 37, admitted to a problem with alcohol in 1994 and went through rehabilitation.
The 1996 National League Most Valuable Player as a member of the San Diego Padres, Caminiti became a free agent when the Houston Astros opted not to exercise a $5.5 million option for 2001 and instead bought him out for $500,000.
A three-time Gold Glove winner, Caminiti spent his first eight seasons with the Astros before joining the Padres in 1995. After a solid season in 1995, Caminiti put it all together in 1996, batting .326 with 40 homers and 130 RBI.
In his 14-year career, Caminiti has a .275 batting average, 224 homers and 942 RBI. But after playing at least 130 games in nine of 10 seasons, Caminiti has been limited to 137 over the last two campaigns combined.
The Rangers, who failed to win the West Division for the first time in three years, have been active this offseason. Texas was in the market for frontline pitchers Mike Hampton and Mike Mussina and Friday signed veteran first baseman Andres Galarraga. The Rangers also are reportedly still in the hunt for Alex Rodriguez and have a meeting with the superstar shortstop today.
UPDATE: Turns out the deal is for one year, with two years of options.