Rangers, David Murphy avoid arbitration by agreeing to one-year deal

The Texas Rangers and David Murphy split the difference and avoided arbitration on Monday with a one-year, $5.775 million deal.

Murphy had been seeking $6.5 million, while the Rangers offered $5.05 million.

By reaching a deal with Murphy, the Rangers will avoid an arbitration hearing and have not had one since Lee Stevens in 2000.

The Rangers signed their other arbitration-eligible players last week. They reached a five-year deal with Matt Harrison, and a one-year deal with Neftali Feliz.

Murphy, 31, batted .304 with 15 home runs and 61 RBIs last season. He started the season as a platoon outfielder but played his way into the everyday lineup.

-- Drew Davison