SURPRISE, Ariz. -- The Rangers finalized a Minor League contract with Jeremy Guthrie on Sunday, and the right-hander had his first workout with the club.
Guthrie, 36, is a 12-year veteran who spent last season with the Royals. He was 8-8 with a 5.95 ERA and a 1.55 WHIP in 24 starts and six relief appearances, and he did not pitch in the postseason as Kansas City won the World Series.
Over the previous two years with the Royals, he was 21-19 with a 4.90 ERA. He made three starts in the 2014 postseason and was 1-1 with a 4.05 ERA. A former first-round Draft pick by Cleveland in '02, he has a career record of 91-108 with a 4.37 ERA with the Indians, Orioles, Rockies and the Royals.
Guthrie gives the Rangers another potential candidate for the fifth spot in the rotation. He will compete with Chi Chi Gonzalez, Nick Martinez, A.J. Griffin, Anthony Ranaudo, Cesar Ramos, Phil Klein and Nick Tepesch.
Texas' rotation consists of Cole Hamels, Colby Lewis, Derek Holland and Martin Perez. The Rangers expect Yu Darvish to return from Tommy John elbow reconstruction surgery sometime from mid-May to early June.