Outfielder Doug Glanville signed a $1 million, one-year contract with the Texas Rangers, a team he thinks will give him a regular spot in the lineup.

Glanville, 32, joins the Rangers after five seasons with the Philadelphia Phillies, where he was a starter most of that time. The righthanded batter hit .249 with six homers, 29 RBI, and 19 stolen bases in 138 games with the Phillies in 2002.

"I'll hopefully play every day or have a chance to,'' Glanville said.

"Doug Glanville provides us with a quality defensive center fielder who has the potential to be an everyday player,'' said Rangers general manager John Hart. "He has been a good offensive player and baserunner throughout his career and could also be a candidate to hit at the top of the lineup.''

Glanville, who made $4 million with the Phillies last year, struggled and lost his starting job. His batting average has steadily dropped from .325 in 1999 to .275 in 2000 to .262 in 2001 and .249 last season.

Glanville said he was out of his rhythm the past two years.

"It's never really one thing,'' he said. "I've been hitting too many balls in the air. I was a slasher.''

He said he will fight for a starting position with the Rangers.

"I didn't want to be in a situation where I was third or fourth outfielder,'' Glanville said. "I'm going to try to go in and win the job.''

Rangers manager Buck Showalter said he would look at Glanville as a center fielder first but might use him at other outfield positions or as a designated hitter.

He had the National League's fourth best pinch-hit average at .350 (7-20) last season.

"This isn't Doug's first rodeo,'' Showalter said. "He's going to do what it takes to help the club.''

Glanville has been steady on defense and an adroit base stealer.

He enters 2003 with a streak of 155 consecutive errorless games since his last miscue on August 17, 2001. Last season, Glanville was caught stealing just twice in 21 attempts.

Glanville said he hoped the Rangers would give him the freedom to steal bases.

"It's tough to leave Philly,'' Glanville said from Philadelphia during a conference call. "I had five years with the team and I had a lot of ties here and a lot of memories.''

He graduated from the University of Pennsylvania and attended high school in Teaneck, N.J.