The Texas Rangers have finalized deals with Josh Smith, Jake Burger, Josh Jung and Ezequiel Duran, their four unsigned arbitration-eligible players, according to Shawn McFarland of the DMN. No details as of yet on the amount each player will receive.
As Rangers fans know, the team has not had an arbitration hearing with a player since 2000, when they were unable to reach a deal with Lee Stevens. As it turned out, Stevens didn’t even play for the Rangers in 2000, as he was dealt to the Montreal Expos during spring training in a three-way deal that sent Brad Fullmer to Toronto from Montreal, and David Segui and cash to the Rangers from the Jays.