Rangers Add Eddie Guardado

Every Day Eddie Guardado is on the move again, and he's headed back south.

According to MLB.com's T.R. Sullivan, Guardado and his former club -- he was traded from the Rangers to the Twins in late August -- agreed to a minor league deal stuffed with incentives on Tuesday night. The deal calls for a base salary of $1 million, but a variety of different clauses could raise its value all the way to $3.5 million.

No matter what you think about him, Guardado is a workhorse. He ranks 29th all time in appearances for a pitcher at 860, and it's entirely possible that he could end up within the Top-20 on that appearance list by the end of 2009.

What is debatable is whether Guardado will be effective again this summer. The 39-year-old was 3-3 with a 3.65 ERA in 55 games for the Rangers last year, but he's not getting any younger. He won't be asked to close for Texas, and that should help some. Instead, he'll be expected to share set-up duties with lefty C.J. Wilson and prep the late innings for closer Frank Francisco.

Will it work? Who knows. You can bet that deal is a minor league contract in name only, though. It'd be pretty surprising if Guardado wasn't on the opening day roster.