Commissioner's office rejects Zimmerman's deal with Rangers

ARLINGTON, Texas -- Pitcher Jeff Zimmerman's minor league contract with the Texas Rangers was rejected by the baseball commissioner's office.

Texas agreed to the deal Dec. 21, but when the Rangers didn't offer Zimmerman salary arbitration Dec. 7, they became ineligible to sign the right-handed reliever until May 1.

Rangers spokesman Gregg Elkin said Tuesday that the team expects to be able to sign Zimmerman to a minor league contract before spring training begins next month. Under baseball procedures, when spring training starts a team can ask the other 29 major league clubs to allow it to re-sign a former player to a minor league deal. He could not be added to the big league roster before May 1, but that is not an issue.

Zimmerman, who hasn't pitched in the majors since 2001 because of elbow problems, wants to remain with the team and continue his rehabilitation. He had two reconstructive operations before surgery on his flexor tendon last July, and isn't likely to pitch in the majors again until at least midway through 2005.

After a team-high 28 saves in 2001, Zimmerman was rewarded with a $10 million, three-year contract. The elbow problems started the next spring.

Zimmerman was on the AL All-Star team as a rookie in 1999, the same year he tied an American League record by winning his first nine decisions for the Rangers. In 196 career games, all from 1999-2001, he is 17-12 with 32 saves and a 3.27 ERA.