The Texas Rangers signed reliever Cody Allen to a minor-league contract with an invitation to spring training, the team announced on Friday.
Allen will earn $1.3 million in 2020 if he makes the team, a source told Levi Weaver of The Athletic.
The 31-year-old is coming off the worst season of his eight-year big-league career. Allen signed an $8.5-million deal with the Los Angeles Angels last winter and was expected to be their closer. Instead, he saved just four games while posting a 6.26 ERA, 1.91 WHIP, 29 strikeouts, and 20 walks in only 23 innings before being released in June.
He finished 2019 in the Minnesota Twins' organization, posting a 3.38 ERA with seven strikeouts in eight outings at Triple-A Rochester.
Before his disastrous stint with the Angels, Allen was a valued member of the Cleveland Indians' bullpen. Over seven seasons with Cleveland, he saved 149 games while recording a 2.98 ERA, helping the team to four playoff berths and the 2016 AL pennant.
Texas also announced the signing of left-hander Brandon Mann to a minor-league deal. Mann, who wasn't invited to big-league camp, appeared in seven games with Texas in 2018 before spending last year with Japan's Chiba Lotte Marines.