By Anthony Mormile
SportsTicker Baseball Editor
ANAHEIM, California - Richard Hidalgo is going to take
his chances back in Texas.
Hidalgo signed a one-year contract with the Texas Rangers on
Friday, hoping that hitting in one of baseball's best lineups
will pay dividends this time next year.
SportsTicker has learned the deal is worth $5 million, with
another $500,000 in incentives.
"Richard is a good fit for us," Texas manager Buck Showalter
said. "We hope he has a great career with us, and that is how
you go into these things. Right now, he gives us great
flexibility and takes some of the pressure off the other guys."
The 29-year-old Hidalgo split last season with the New York Mets
and Houston Astros, batting .239 with 25 homers and 82 RBIs in
144 games. He was traded to the Mets on June 17, hitting just
.228 with New York but producing 21 homers and 52 RBIs in 86
games.
A career .273 hitter, Hidalgo has 155 homers and 517 RBIs in 899
games. His best season came in 2000, when he hit .314 with 44
homers and 122 RBIs for the Houston Astros.
After the 2000 campaign, Hidalgo signed a back-loaded four-year,
$32 million deal. With Texas' productive offense, Hidalgo is
hoping to parlay a healthy and stellar offensive season into a
lucrative, multi-year deal.