Ivan Rodriguez is coming home to the Texas Rangers.
The 14-time All-Star catcher who started his career with the Rangers at age 19 was acquired in a trade yesterday with the Houston Astros for minor league pitcher Matt Nevarez and two players to be named.
“It’s been a long time,’’ said Rodriguez, who was with the Rangers from 1991-2002. “I’m glad that I’m back.’’
Rodriguez, 37, signed a one-year, $1.5 million contract with the Astros in March and went on to hit .251 with eight home runs and 34 RBIs in 93 games. But the Astros have faded in the NL playoff chase, while the Rangers are tied with the Red Sox for the lead in the AL wild-card race.
Rodriguez is one of the most popular players in Rangers history, winning 10 of his 13 Gold Gloves with them.
Rodriguez caught 1,426 games in Texas, second in club history to Jim Sundberg’s 1,495. He hit .305 with 215 home runs and 829 RBIs with the Rangers.
Rangers outfielder David Murphy said he will give up his No. 7, the number Rodriguez wore throughout his time with the Rangers and much of his career.
Rangers manager Ron Washington said Rodriguez would back up Taylor Teagarden, who became the starting catcher when Jarrod Saltalamacchia went on the disabled list last week.
Strasburg, who has been labeled a once-in-a-generation talent, commanded a record-breaking contract worth a guaranteed $15.1 million over four years in negotiations that closed about a minute before Monday night’s deadline. Strasburg gets a $7.5 million signing bonus payable over three years. His 2009 salary is the $400,000 minimum, which comes to a prorated $102,732. He gets $2 million in 2010, $2.5 million in 2011, and $3 million in 2012.
Acting Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo said it’s “very unlikely’’ Strasburg will be called up to the majors this season. And 2010? Even that is not a certainty.
“We’re going to see where his development takes him, and we’re going to be very cautious with him and develop him like one of the elite prospects in the game,’’ Rizzo said. “There’s no expectations of him to be in the rotation in 2010.’’
