Rangers Sign Andrus To 3-Year Contract

The Texas Rangers formally announced today that the club has signed shortstop Elvis Andrus to a three-year contract through the 2014 season.  No financial terms were disclosed, per club policy.

Andrus, 23, had been eligible for arbitration for the first time in 2012.  With today’s signing, two unsigned Rangers remain eligible for salary arbitration: catcher Mike Napoli and outfielder Nelson Cruz. 

In his third major league season in 2011, Andrus established career bests in most offensive categories, including batting average (.279), runs (96), hits (164), and RBI (60).  He ranked fifth in the American League in stolen bases (37), becoming just the second Ranger ever with 30-or-more steals in three different seasons.  Over the last three seasons, he leads all major league shortstops in putouts (748) and is second in total chances (2026) and games (440).

An All-Star in 2010, Andrus finished second in A.L. Rookie of the Year voting in 2009 and has been the club’s starting shortstop for three straight seasons.  Andrus has started all 33 playoff games at shortstop for the Rangers in the last two seasons.  He is Texas’ all-time leader in postseason steals (9), is tied for first with Ian Kinsler in hits (36), and is second in at-bats (136) and runs (tied-18).

Andrus has a .271 career average with 256 runs scored and 102 stolen bases in 443 big league games, all with the Rangers.