The Rangers wasted no time with the opening of today’s Winter meetings to sign Richard Hidalgo to a 1 year contract. This is probably a good signging, provided he stays healthy, unlike last year’s import to play RF.
News Story:
The Rangers didn’t waste any time in their effort to land an everyday right fielder at the Winter Meetings. That job will go to Richard Hidalgo, who agreed to terms with Texas on Friday and is to be introduced at a 5 p.m. CT news conference.
Hidalgo hit .239 last year for the Astros and Mets and was looking for an opportunity to sign a one-year deal, have a big season in the right environment and then take his chances on the free agent market next winter.
Despite the low batting average in 2004, Hidalgo finished with 25 homers and 82 RBIs. Peter Greenberg, the agent for Hidalgo, said earlier in the week that Texas was showing strong interest and the interest was mutual.
The Rangers had been pursuing Jermaine Dye as well as Hidalgo for the right field job and aggressively began focusing on Hidalgo after Dye signed with the Chicago White Sox on Thursday.