The Rangers formally introduced free agent signee Shin-Soo Choo at a press conference earlier today. GM Jon Daniels signed the outfielder to a seven-year, $130 million deal. Including Choo’s $14 million salary for 2014, the Rangers stand at about $116 million guaranteed to 15 players, leaving them $9 million shy of last season’s Opening Day payroll of $125 million.
It seems obvious, though you can never assume, but the Rangers are done with the heavy lifting. Daniels called free agent Nelson Cruz to thank him for his time in Texas. Daniels expects Cruz to sign elsewhere, according to ESPN’s Richard Durrett. Rangers co-chairman Bob Simpson also said that the club is over budget and thus unlikely to get involved the Masahiro Tanaka bidding, per Durrett.
