DETROIT, Feb. 2 (UPI) -- Catcher Ivan "Pudge" Rodriguez, a 10-time all-star, signed a four-year $40 million contract Monday with the Detroit tigers.
"We are thrilled to have him on board," Tigers President David Dombrowski said. "Many individuas have worked over an extended period of time on signing Rodriguez."
Rodriguez leaves the world champion Florida Marlins for a Detroit team that lost an American League record 119 games last season.
"To get a player of this magnitude, it's a start," Tigers Manager Alan Trammell said in reference to the team's efforts to rebuild.
The Tigers have signed other players recently, including outfielder Rondell White, second baseman Fernando Vina and pitchers Al Levine and Jason Johnson.
Rodriguez was the American League's Most Valuable Player in 1999. He is a career .304 hitter with 231 home runs and 914 runs batted in.
