ARLINGTON -- The Rangers have signed right-handed reliever Juan Nicasio to a Minor League contract with an invitation to Spring Training, the club announced Wednesday.

Nicasio spent last season with the Phillies and was 2-3 with a 4.75 ERA and a 1.65 WHIP. He has spent nine years in the big leagues with the Rockies, Dodgers, Pirates, Phillies, Cardinals and Mariners with a career record of 40-46, a 4.64 ERA, nine saves and a 1.42 WHIP.

Nicasio is a setup relief candidate with a fastball that averages 93.6 mph and a slider as a secondary pitch. He averaged 8.56 strikeouts per nine innings in 2019.

Texas also announced on Wednesday that Kyle Bird, a left-handed reliever who made 12 appearances in 2019, was assigned outright to Triple-A Nashville after being designated for assignment on Jan. 15. Bird, 26, will also be at Spring Training as a non-roster invitee.