Rangers sign RHP Colby Lewis to one-year contract for 2015 season
Veteran led Rangers in starts and innings in 2014
Arlington, Texas - The Texas Rangers today announced the signing of free agent right-handed pitcher Colby Lewis to a one-year contract for the 2015 season.
Lewis, 35, went 10-14 with a 5.18 ERA (98 ER/170.1 IP) in 29 games/starts for Texas in 2014 after missing the previous season following elbow and hip surgeries. He led all Rangers in starts and innings last year, and tied Yu Darvish for most wins on the staff. Lewis had a 3.86 ERA (37 ER/86.1 IP) in his 13 starts after the All-Star break, including a shutout on August 5 at Chicago-AL and a complete game on August 27 at Seattle.
Since returning to the Rangers in 2010, Lewis has averaged 7.86 strikeouts per 9 innings, the 8th-best figure among American League pitchers with at least 100 starts over the last 5 seasons. His 3.23 strikeouts per walk in that span ranks 10th in the A.L.
Lewis has spent the bulk of his major league career with the Rangers since he was selected by Texas with the 38th overall pick in the 1999 June draft. He ranks among all-time team leaders in strikeouts (7th, 718), starts (8th, 142), and wins (10th, 54), and is one of eight pitchers with at least 4 different 10-win seasons for the Rangers. Lewis' average of 7.57 strikeouts per 9 innings ranks 2nd in club history among pitchers with 800.0+ innings to only Nolan Ryan (10.06). His 4 postseason victories are the most in franchise history, including a pair of wins in the 2010 American League Championship Series against the Yankees.
With the signing of Lewis, the Rangers now have 38 players on the club's 40-man roster.
KIRKMAN SIGNS MINORS CONTRACT: LHP Michael Kirkman has signed a minor league contract with the Rangers that includes an invitation to major league spring training camp. Kirkman was not tendered a contract offer by the Rangers prior to Tuesday's deadline, which made him a free agent. A longtime member of the organization, Kirkman was 5-5 with 4.47 in 36 games/4 starts with Triple-A Round Rock and 0-1, 1.59 in 12 games with Texas in 2014.