Rangers Sign Free Agent LHP Joe Beimel to One-Year Contract

Surprise, Ariz. - The Texas Rangers announced today that the club has signed free agent left-handed pitcher Joe Beimel (#97) to a one-year major league contract for the 2015 season. No further terms were disclosed.

Beimel, 37, returned to the major leagues last season after a two-year absence and went 3-1 with a 2.20 ERA (11 ER/45.0 IP) in 56 relief appearances for Seattle. He compiled a team-best 19.0-inning scoreless streak from May 2-July 10 last season, spanning 21 appearances. In 2014, left-handed batters hit .188 (15-80) against Beimel with 2 walks and 17 strikeouts in 85 plate appearances. Dating to 2006, Beimel has held left-handed hitters to a .234 batting average. 

Beimel was in spring training with the Rangers in 2012 before he was released on March 26 of that year. He had Tommy John ligament replacement surgery on his left elbow in May 2012, and did not pitch in the majors in 2012-13. He signed with the Braves in May 2013 and made 30 appearances for Triple-A Gwinnett that year. Beimel has a career record of 27-33 with a 4.07 ERA over 623 games/23 starts in the majors with Pittsburgh (2001-03, 2011), Minnesota (2004), Tampa Bay (2005), Los Angeles-NL (2006-08), Washington (2009), Colorado (2009-10), and Seattle (2014).

OLMOS OFFICIALLY RETURNED TO MARINERS: The Rangers' February 24 waiver claim of left-handed pitcher Edgar Olmos from Seattle was formally reversed by Major League Baseball today, and he has been returned to the Mariners.

With the addition of Beimel and the removal of Olmos from the major league roster, the Rangers still have a full 40-man roster plus one player (Jurickson Profar) on the 60-day disabled list.