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Cuban defector Jose Ruiz signs with the Rangers after being released by the Rays

jose ruiz cuba

Cuban first basemen Jose Ruiz, who was released by the Rays in November as part of a unique contract stipulation, has signed a new deal with the Rangers.

Ruiz’s original agreement with the Rays was a minor-league deal that would become a four-year, $4 million contract if the Rays exercised that option by mid-November. They weren’t impressed with Ruiz while he hit .272 with one homer and a .709 OPS in 23 games at Double-A, so they declined the option and he became a free agent.

His new contract with the Rangers is simply a standard minor-league deal that includes an invitation to spring training, with assistant general manager Thad Levine telling T.R. Sullivan of MLB.com that he’ll “probably start at Double-A or Triple-A, so we can get around him and see what he can do.”