ARLINGTON, Texas, Feb. 5 (UPI) -- Juan Gonzalez once again will be wearing a Texas Rangers' uniform when spring training begins later this month.
The Rangers Tuesday officially announced a two-year deal with the slugger, who won American League Most Valuable Player honors with Texas in 1996 and 1998.
Gonzalez, the biggest jewel remaining on the free agent market, spurned the New York Mets and agreed to a deal with the Rangers on Jan. 8. At the time, the Rangers said the deal would be formally announced when Gonzalez passed a physical.
Gonzalez passed the physical on Jan. 24 and the final terms of the deal -- worth $24 million -- were worked out over the past few days.
One of the game's best power hitters, Gonzalez turned down a nine-figure extension from the Detroit Tigers and refused a trade to the New York Yankees in 2000. He had the worst year of his career, batting .289 with 22 homers and 67 RBI.
That hurt Gonzalez's market value as a free agent and John Hart -- then the GM of the Indians and now with Texas -- signed him to a one-year deal for $10 million. Gonzalez re-established his value by hitting .315 with 35 homers and 140 RBI and helping Cleveland win the Central Division title.
Gonzalez, 32, primarily played left field for the Indians. He also was mainly an outfielder during his first stint in Texas, which ran from 1989-99. He has a career average of .295 with 397 homers and 1,282 RBI.
