From T.R. Sullivan of MLB.com comes word that Rangers reliever Frank Francisco has decided that he will accept the club’s offer of salary arbitration.
Francisco could have tested the open market in search of a multi-year contract, but he was labeled as a Type A free agent this fall and that probably scared off potential suitors because the team that signed him would have been required to surrender a first round draft pick.
The Rangers have not fully decided whether they are going to move Neftali Feliz to the starting rotation heading into next season. That all depends on whether they’re able to re-sign left-hander Cliff Lee.
If Feliz remains a ninth-inning guy, Francisco will stick to setup. He posted a 2.84 ERA and held opponents to a .220 batting average between mid-April and the end of August this season in that role.
Francisco earned $3.265 million in 2010 and will get a decent raise through the arbitration process.