Ryan Ludwick to Rangers: Latest Contract Details, Comments, Reaction

With many of the best free-agent outfielders already off the market, the Texas Rangers opted for a more sensible option, agreeing to a minor league deal with Ryan Ludwick.

Rangers Executive Vice President of Communications John Blake provided the news: 

Back in October, the Cincinnati Reds declined Ludwick's option for 2015, instead paying him a $4.5-million buyout.

Ludwick became a bit of a lightning rod for fans in Cincinnati upset with the team's decline in 2014. After a strong first season with the Reds, Ludwick's numbers fell off in 2013 and 2014. It's been years since he was a reliable defensive player, so when his offense slacked, his value was diminished.

During his strong 2012 campaign, he hit .275 with 26 home runs and 80 runs batted in. He also posted a 2.0 WAR, according to Baseball-Reference. In 2014, his WAR was negative.

Perhaps Ludwick's shoulder injury continued to linger into last year, but fans didn't have much time for a corner outfielder who hit .244/.308/.375 with nine home runs and 45 runs batted in. Ludwick's OPS+ also dropped from 130 in 2012 to 93 in 2014.

Making matters worse, Ludwick earned a total salary of $4.5 million for last year, which meant he provided little bang for the buck.

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Now, the Rangers will have more realistic expectations for Ludwick, and he'll be compensated more in keeping with his current talent level, eliminating the possibility that Texas fans beat the team and player over the head with complaints about a bad contract.

Ludwick also understands that he can't demand to be an everyday outfielder anymore, either.

"I'm getting older," he said in September, per John Fay of The Cincinnati Enquirer. "If I'm playing next year, it will probably be in a lesser role—whether it be a guy off the bench or platoon guy or whatever it might be. I definitely want to try to keep playing."

Signing Ludwick isn't a transformative addition for the Rangers. However, he still has some pop offensively and could have potential as a pinch hitter and occasional starter. Ludwick might also have a chip on his shoulder after the poor conclusion to his time in Cincinnati.

A timely home run or extra-base hit could be all that Texas needs to recoup its investment.