Report: Rangers, Yakult Swallows reliever Barnette agree on two-year deal
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Sep 5, 2014; Arlington, TX, USA; A view of the Texas Rangers logo before the game between the Rangers and the Seattle Mariners at Globe Life Park in Arlington. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
The Texas Rangers have agreed to a contract with reliever Tony Barnette, who has spent the past six seasons in Japan pitching for the Yakult Swallows.
Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News confirmed the news on Thursday, adding that the Rangers agreed with the 32-year-old Barnette on a two-year pact.
Barnette was originally selected by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 2006 Draft and moved overseas to pitch for the Swallows in 2010. This past season, he posted a 1.29 ERA in just under 63 innings of work while posting a WHIP of 0.894. Grant noted that Barnette reportedly throws his fastball around 95 mph, so adding him to the Rangers' bullpen would provide Jeff Banister with another hard-throwing right-hander for the late innings.