[ThePundit]

The Texas Rangers on Friday signed infielder Edgardo Alfonzo to a minor league contract and invited him to spring training.

Alfonzo, 34, spent the entire 2007 campaign with the Long Island Ducks of the independent Atlantic League, hitting .266 with five home runs, 56 RBI and 23 doubles in 105 games. He split the 2006 campaign between the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim and Toronto Blue Jays.

An All-Star in 2000 with the New York Mets, Alfonzo currently is playing for Magallanes of the Venezuelan Winter League. Through Thursday, the veteran was batting .345 with five homers and 25 RBI in 39 games.

He ranks fourth among Venezuelan League qualifiers in both batting average and slugging percentage.

Rangers sign IF Alfonzo - MLB - Yahoo! Sports
Alfonso's been washed up for 5 years, at least. Don't ask me what the Rangers are thinking because I have no idea.

[Lefty Noob]

It's a minor league deal. No harm, no foul. He probably won't make the team but it doesn't hurt to try.

[azrael492]

A lot of teams do this. They sign players in the hopes they can get a great bargain. I remember the Indians did this a few years ago when they gave Juan Gonzalez a chance.

[Lefty Noob]

Originally Posted by azrael492

A lot of teams do this. They sign players in the hopes they can get a great bargain. I remember the Indians did this a few years ago when they gave Juan Gonzalez a chance.

Isn't this how Julio Franco got started with the Mets?

[ThePundit]

Originally Posted by Lefty Noob

Isn't this how Julio Franco got started with the Mets?

No. Actually, Omar Minaya inexplicably gave Franco a 2 year deal......I'm not saying giving a guy a minor league deal is the end of the world. I just have a problem with how Texas thinks. It's hitting, hitting, hitting.....Give a pitcher a minor league deal and I would understand it more.

[azrael492]

Is the minor league contract guaranteed? If he doesn't make the team, how much does he get? I would invite everybody not signed if I owned the team especially if it didn't cost much.