Rangers sign free agent RHP Tony Barnette to one-year contract for 2018 season

Arlington, Texas -- The Texas Rangers tonight announced the signing of free agent right-handed pitcher Tony Barnette to a one-year contract for the 2018 season. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Barnette, 34, saw his first major league action as a member of the Rangers bullpen in each of the past two seasons, combining for a 9-4 record with a 3.75 ERA spanning 103 relief appearances and 117.2 innings. He joined Matt Bush as the only Texas relievers with at least 50 appearances in each of the last two campaigns. Barnette went 2-1 with a 5.49 ERA over 50 games in 2017, earning the first 2 saves of his major league career. He was also on the 10-day disabled list from June 15-July 1 with a sprained right ring finger.
The Rangers formally declined a 2018 club option for Barnette on November 6, making him a free agent. He was initially signed by Texas to a two-year contract on December 16, 2015, after spending six seasons with the Tokyo Yakult Swallows of the Central League of Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). His 95 saves from 2012-15 ranked second in NPB in that span.
Barnette was originally selected by Arizona in the 10th round of the 2006 June draft and pitched four seasons in the Diamondbacks system from 2006-09 before signing in Japan. A Seattle-area native, he pitched at both Central Arizona College and Arizona State University prior to being drafted.
With the addition of Barnette, the Rangers' major league roster now has 36 players.