Texas Rangers avoid arbitration with closer Shawn Tolleson

Shawn Tolleson closed out his first game of 2016 on Monday as the closer avoided salary arbitration with the Texas Rangers by agreeing to a one-year deal worth $3.275 million.

The two sides met in the middle. Tolleson was seeking $3.9 million after saving 35 games and earning the media’s nod as the Rangers’ Pitcher of the Year, and the Rangers were originally seeking to pay him $2.6 million.

Only two of the seven Rangers players who are eligible for salary arbitration have yet to agree to terms, first baseman Mitch Moreland and left-hander Jake Diekman.

Moreland filed a salary of $6 million Jan. 15 when players and teams exchanged figures. The Rangers countered at $4.675 million. Diekman filed at $1.55 million, and the Rangers were at $975,000.

General manager Jon Daniels is in the Dominican Republic for the front office’s annual trip to the club’s Latin American facility, but on Saturday he said that the remaining cases should be settled before next Monday’s deadline.

“But you have to prepare for the hearing, unfortunately,” said Daniels, who has never had a player go to an arbitration hearing.

This story was originally published January 25, 2016 at 3:04 PM with the headline "Texas Rangers avoid arbitration with closer Shawn Tolleson."