The Texas Rangers have reached an agreement with free agent outfielder Shin-Soo Choo who will sign a seven-year deal worth $130 million per reports from ESPN.com.
Choo is the best offensive player remaining unsigned after Robinson Cano hooked up with Seattle and Jacoby Ellsbury signed with the New York Yankees. However he must pass a physical first before the agreement is finalized.
The ESPN source said the contract does not include an opt-out clause, but it does have a limited no-trade clause and performance bonus incentives.
Choo last played for the Cincinnati Reds where he was one of the best leadoff hitters with a .423 on-base percentage, a .285 batting average, 21 homers, 54 RBIs, 20 steals and 107 runs scored. He is expected to fill in the leadoff in Texas and partner with Prince Fielder who came from Detroit in a trade for Ian Kinsler earlier in the offseason to lead a rejuvenated Rangers offense. He is a career .288 hitter with a .380 on-base percentage during his nine seasons as a pro. He had also played for Seattle and Cleveland.
Choo has an on-base percentage that was ranked second only to then Reds teammate Joey Votto last year, when he was 12th in the NL MVP balloting.
Yet a chink in his armor is his struggles against left-handed pitching. He has a .309 career batting average and a .932 OPS against right-handed pitching, compared to .243 and .680 against lefties. He batted .317 against righties and .215 vs. lefties last season.
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