ARLINGTON, Texas, Jan. 28 (UPI) -- The Texas Rangers added to their growing stable of pitchers Monday by signing righthanders Ismael Valdes and Rudy Seanez.
The pair mark the 10th and 11th new pitchers signed by John Hart since taking over as general manager in November. Hart is desperate to improve a team that ranked last in the major leagues last season with a 5.71 ERA.
The 28-year-old Valdes agreed to a major league contract at undisclosed terms. Plagued by hamstring and arm injuries, Valdes compiled a 9-13 record and a 4.45 ERA for the Anaheim Angels last season.
Seanez agreed to terms on a contract with Class AAA Oklahoma with an invitation spring training. He was a combined 0-2 with a 2.75 ERA in 38 relief appearances for the San Diego Padres and Atlanta Braves last season.
Once considered one of the Los Angeles Dodgers' top pitching prospects, Valdes won 10 or more games for four consecutive seasons from 1995-98. He pitched 225 innings and won 15 games in 1996. However, he has pitched more than 200 innings only once since then and has not won more than 11 games in a season.
Valdes worked with new Rangers pitching coach Oscar Acosta in 2000 while with the Chicago Cubs, but went 2-4 with a 5.37 ERA and was traded back to the Dodgers. Anaheim signed him as a free agent before last season and he owns a career record of 72-74.
Chan Ho Park, Dave Burba, Hideki Irabu and John Rocker are among the other pitchers brought in by Hart since November.
Seanez, 33, bounced back last season after recovering from elbow surgery in June of 2000. He began his career with Cleveland in 1989. The righthander is 16-13 with a 4.32 ERA and 11 saves in 242 appearances with Cleveland, San Diego, Los Angeles and Atlanta.
