Moreland's $5.7M deal with Rangers avoids arbitration

PHOENIX (AP) First baseman Mitch Moreland has agreed to a $5.7 million, one-year contract with the Texas Rangers, avoiding a salary arbitration hearing set for

PHOENIX (AP) First baseman Mitch Moreland has agreed to a $5.7 million, one-year contract with the Texas Rangers, avoiding a salary arbitration hearing set for later Wednesday.

Moreland gets a raise without an arbitration hearing for the third year in a row and will be eligible for free agency after this year's World Series.

Moreland made $2,975,000 last season, when he hit .278 with 23 home runs and 85 RBIs in 132 games, starting 110 of those at first base.

When thesides exchanged figures last month, Moreland had asked for $6 million and Texas had offered $4.7 million, leaving the settlement $362,500 above the midpoint. Texas hasn't gone to an arbitration hearing since 2000 with Lee Stevens.

Drafted by the Rangers in 2007, Moreland made his major league debut midway through the 2010 season and was part of the team's first World Series that October. He has a .258 average with 88 homers and 294 RBIs in 626 big league games.