Rangers sign Khalil Greene to one-year contract

Posted on January 11, 2010

Khalil Greene of the San Diego Padres slides home safely during a game against the San Francisco Giants at AT&T Park in San Francisco, CA on May 29, 2005. (Photo by Brad Mangin)

 

The Texas Rangers have signed shortstop Khalil Greene to a one-year contract worth $750,000. The 30-year-old Greene hit .200 in 193 plate appearances with the Cardinals in 2009  before going on the disabled list in May with social anxiety disorder. Earlier this week, ESPN’s Buster Olney wrote that Greene has been working out diligently at Vanderbilt this offseason with his former college coach. The former starting shortstop for the Padres will serve as a utility infielder with the Rangers.

I will be rooting like crazy for Greene to make a full recovery and start to play some good baseball again in 2010. Ever since Greene’s first full season in the big leagues with the Padres in 2004 I have always loved watching him play, even though he always seemed to be killing the Giants with dramatic home runs at PETCO Park. He came in second place in the voting for the National league Rookie of the Year in 2004 when he batted .273 with 15 homers and 65 RBIs. He had his best year in 2007 when he blasted 27 bombs and knocked in 97 runs. Besides having a great bat and hitting so many homers in the spacious home ballpark the Padres play in Greene was always on SportsCenter making dazzling defensive plays at shortstop.

I was always jealous of the photographers in San Diego who had the chance to shoot Greene on a daily basis. I saw so many great photos on the wire by Associated Press staffer Lenny Ignelzi of Greene making insane diving plays at shortstop. I hope this season in Texas is a stepping stone in the career of Greene, allowing him to go elsewhere in 2011 and get a starting job, like he deserves.