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The Rangers have reached a seven-year deal, $130 million deal with free agent outfielder Shin-Soo Choo, according to Jon Heyman of CBS Sports.
Texas had been seeking outfield help since their previous right fielder, Nelson Cruz, hit the open market this winter after rejecting their qualifying offer. They were connected to other top free agents like Jacoby Ellsbury and Carlos Beltran at points, but with those two both landing with the Yankees, the team turned all of its attention towards Choo in recent weeks.
Texas appears to have first made this offer all the way back on December 11, when T.R. Sullivan of MLB.com reported the team had extended Choo a seven-year offer which he believed to be around $130 million, but the former-Red continued to explore the market until today. He reportedly turned down a better offer- seven-years, $140 million- from the Yankees earlier this week. Houston was linked to as well Choo and at least one GM believed the Astros to be a strong contender to land him. Joel Sherman of the New York Post offers some possible explanations for Choo's preference for Texas-
Believe #Yankees were willing to do 7-$140M with Choo. But no state tax in Tex and #Rangers his top choice moved Choo to do 7-$130M with Tex
— Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) December 21, 2013
Choo was one of the top table-setters in the games at the head of the Reds lineup last season. His .423 on-bae percentage was the second highest in the National League and he also finished second in the league in runs scored with 107. The 31-year old Korean star has hit .288/.389/.465 in his nine-year career in the majors with Cleveland and Cincinnati.
With Choo off the market, former-Ranger Nelson Cruz could start to draw increasing attention from other teams hoping to add offense in the outfield. The Mariners are one club that could make a play for Cruz now that Choo is with the Rangers, according to Bob Nightengale of USA Today.
