The New York Mets today announced the club has signed free agent right-handed pitcher Frank Francisco to a two-year contract.
Francisco, 32, went 1-4 with 17 saves and a 3.55 ERA (20 earned runs/50.2 innings) in 54 games with the Toronto Blue Jays in 2011. The 6-2, 250-pounder issued 18 walks and had 53 strikeouts. He converted all seven save opportunities and posted a 1.37 ERA (four earned runs/26.1 innings) after the All-Star break. Francisco hurled 16.0 scoreless innings from July 22-Sept. 5.
The Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, native has appeared in 50 or more games in each of the last five years. He was 6-4 with two saves and a 3.76 ERA (22 earned runs/52.2 innings) with 60 strikeouts while helping the Texas Rangers advance to the World Series in 2010.
Francisco set a career-high with 25 saves in 2009 with Texas. He ranks fifth among American League relievers with 302 strikeouts over the last five years (2007-2011).
He is 18-19 with 49 saves and a 3.72 ERA (138 earned runs/334.0 innings) with 368 strikeouts in 331 games with Texas and Toronto during his seven-year major league career.
