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The Texas Rangers have re-signed righthander Colby Lewis. The deal is reportedly a minor league contract with a base of $2 million if he makes the major league team, and another potential $4 million in incentives.
Lewis, a first round pick of the Rangers in 1999 who ended up re-vitalizing his career in Japan, was a key rotation member in the Ranger rotation for the 2010 and 2011 World Series teams. Lewis, however, had his 2012 season cut short because of a torn flexor tendon, and while he was hopeful he would return in May, 2013, Lewis ended up missing the entire 2013 season. He also underwent a surgical procedure on his hip, which had been causing him problems for the past couple of years.
If Lewis is healthy and throwing well this spring, he will presumably be the fifth starter for the Rangers to start the 2014 season. That would mean, if the Rangers don't trade one of their other starters, that the rotation would project as Yu Darvish, Derek Holland, Matt Harrison, Martin Perez and Colby Lewis, with Alexi Ogando moving back to the pen and Nick Tepesch providing depth in AAA.