Rangers re-sign Treanor

ARLINGTON — The Texas Rangers announced today that the club has re-signed free agent catcher Matt Treanor to a one-year contract for the 2011 season. Additionally, right-handed pitcher Ryan Tucker has cleared outright waivers and been assigned to Triple-A Round Rock. Tucker will be a non-roster invitee to major league spring training camp.

“We appreciated the qualities that Matt brought to our club in 2010, both on the field and the presence he had in our clubhouse,” said Rangers General Manager Jon Daniels. “He stepped into a challenging situation and helped lead the club. We’re happy to have him back to solidify our catching situation.”

Treanor, 34, spent the 2010 season with the Rangers after being acquired in a March 22 trade with Milwaukee in exchange for infielder Ray Olmedo. Treanor led all Rangers with 67 starts at catcher last season, batting .211 with 5 home runs and 27 RBI in 82 games. He established career highs in games, runs (22), homers, and RBI. He also went 2-for-10 with one home run and 2 RBI over 4 games/starts for Texas in the postseason.

Texas pitchers had a 3.92 ERA with Treanor behind the plate last season, the fourth-lowest figure in the American League among catchers with at least 80 games. He caught 11-of-55 (20.0%) runners attempting to steal and had a .994 (3 E/ 536 TC) fielding percentage, third-best in the A.L. among catchers with at least 500 total chances.

Tucker, 24, was acquired on a waiver claim from Florida on October 6. A supplemental first round selection by Florida in the 2005 June draft, Tucker saw his only big league action with the Marlins in 2008 and made appearances with three different minor league affiliates in 2010.

With these moves, the Rangers still have a full 40-man roster.