ARLINGTON, Texas -- The Texas Rangers took another step toward shoring up their bullpen Thursday by signing right-handed reliever Esteban Yan to a one-year deal. Terms weren't announced.

	Esteban Yan Relief pitcher Texas Rangers Profile
	2002 SEASON STATISTICS GM IP W-L SV SO ERA 55 69 7-8 19 53 4.30

Yan, 27, went 7-8 with a 4.30 ERA and 18 saves in 55 games last season with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.

His signing comes four days after the Rangers signed two-time All-Star closer Ugueth Urbina to a one-year deal for $4 million with another $500,000 deferred.

Although Yan has started, general manager John Hart said he'll be used mostly as a middle reliever.

"We've added a youthful, durable righthanded pitcher that has a big upside," Hart said on a conference call. "He's just the type of guy who can pitch multiple days and potentially can pitch multiple innings."

Yan converted 19 of 27 save opportunities last year, and his seven relief wins tied a Tampa Bay record.

"The addition of Esteban Yan is in some ways like adding a third closer, but he is also a guy who can be used earlier in a game," Hart said.

Manager Buck Showalter said he likes Yan's power, and that his youth and durability will allow the team to bring him in early or late.

"The addition of Esteban Yan stretches out our bullpen," he said. "His durability and ability to pitch multiple innings was attractive to us."

Yan joins a bullpen that blew several late leads last season.

The one-year deals for Yan and Urbina work for the Rangers because closer Jeff Zimmerman could be recovered from arm trouble by 2004 and Francisco Cordero could be ready to take over as a closer by then.

Zimmerman was supposed to solidify the closer's job when he signed a $10 million, three-year deal in January, but he didn't throw a pitch last season. Elbow problems are expected to keep him out until the second half of the season.

Cordero had 10 saves, second on the team to Hideki Irabu's 16. Irabu was released in November and has since returned to Japan.

Yan is 26-31 with a 5.26 ERA for his career, including seven appearances with the Baltimore Orioles and the last five seasons with Tampa Bay.

He owns Tampa Bay records for appearances (266) and strikeouts (351), and he's tied for most career victories with 26. In 2001, he was 4-6 with 22 saves and a 3.90 ERA.

Yan became a free agent Dec. 7 when the Devil Rays didn't tender him a contract.