Rangers sign former All-Star pitcher Mike Foltynewicz to 1-year deal

Feb. 10 (UPI) -- Former All-Star right-hander Mike Foltynewicz has signed a short-term contract with the Texas Rangers, the team announced Wednesday.

League sources told MLB Media that Foltynewicz's deal is for one year and worth $2 million. The club hasn't confirmed the terms of the agreement.

"I'm in a good spot right now and I'm very healthy," Foltynewicz said Wednesday. "I'm busting my butt this off-season. I had to be on my own this year, and you know, just invest in yourself to be great."

The 29-year-old Foltynewicz made only one start for the Atlanta Braves last season, allowing six runs in 3 1/3 innings during a loss to the Tampa Bay Rays. He spent the remainder of the 2020 campaign in the Braves' alternate training site.

Before last season, Foltynewicz posted a 40-34 record in 103 games for the Braves from 2016-19. His best season came in 2018, when he went 13-10 with a 2.85 ERA across 31 starts to earn a trip to the MLB All-Star Game.

Rangers general manager Chris Young said the team signed Foltynewicz with the intention for him to be a starting pitcher. He will join a rotation that includes Kohei Arihara, Dane Dunning, Jordan Lyles and Kyle Gibson.

"We're confident that as he kind of gets innings under his belt, his velocity is going to bounce back," Young said. "His sinker looks good, the slider was solid, so I think we're confident. And the motivation is there.

"He's worked extremely hard to get to where he is. I think that if you pair all that together, he's in a good position to bounce back."

The Houston Astros selected Foltynewicz in the first round of the 2010 draft. He made his Major League debut with the club in 2014. The Astros traded him to the Braves the following off-season.

Foltynewicz has a 44-42 record and 4.33 ERA in 118 starts and 20 relief appearances in his MLB career.