SURPRISE, Ariz. -- The Rangers wasted no time making moves after the conclusion of the MLB lockout. Texas and left-handed pitcher Martín Pérez have agreed to a one-year contract, sources told MLB.com. Per MLB Network’s Jon Heyman, the deal is for $4 million. 

The club has not announced the deal and it is pending a physical. 

The signing would be another step forward to addressing a major need for the Rangers going into the 2022 season. Texas signed right-hander Jon Gray before the lockout and Pérez is another veteran who can provide length alongside a group of young pitchers. 

The Rangers signed Pérez in 2007 as an international free agent out of Venezuela, and he spent the first seven years of his big league career with the club. He finished sixth in the American League Rookie of the Year voting in 2013. During his time in Texas, Pérez posted a 4.63 ERA with a 1.48 WHIP.

Pérez spent the previous two seasons with the Red Sox. He logged 114 innings with a 4.74 ERA in 2021. Pérez, along with Gray, will surely upgrade the Rangers' rotation, which had the third-worst ERA (5.33) in MLB in '21. 

As it stands, Gray and Pérez will slot into the top of the rotation, while the young arms of Taylor Hearn, Dane Dunning, Glenn Otto and A.J. Alexy battle it out for the remaining spots. With Opening Day approaching quickly on April 8, pitching health and depth will be a major point of emphasis going forward this Spring Training. 

The Rangers are no doubt still looking to add to their rotation as free agency and the trade market continue to heat up. With Dallas-native Clayton Kershaw reportedly re-signing with the Dodgers and Carlos Rodón also off the board, Texas is expected to explore the trade market primarily. 

“We want a guy with some experience, that's been through some ups and downs in the big leagues, and does things the right way,” manager Chris Woodward said about what the club looks for in free-agent pitchers. “That would be probably more beneficial than anything they'll do on the field to be honest with you. But the next part of that would be the expectation to compete on the field. Obviously, we want to bring in somebody that's gonna be good and that's gonna pitch quality innings for us.”