Rangers welcome back Sammy Sosa

Slugger Sammy Sosa inked a minor-league contract Tuesday with the Texas Rangers, the team he started his career with in 1989.

Sosa, 38, ranks fifthall-time with 588 home runs but went unsigned last season.

He auditioned twice for the Rangers, two weeks ago in Texas and last month in his native Dominican Republic.

"I feel born again," Sosa said. "There is a lot left in my body and I am going to give it to the Texas Rangers."

If Sosa makes Texas's 40-man roster, he'll be paid a base salary of $500,000 US with the potential to make $2.2 million US in performance bonuses.

"If they give me the at-bats, I'm going to perform," Sosa said. "I know I can make that team."

Sosa last played for the Baltimore Orioles in 2005, averaging .221 with 14 home runs, 45 runs batted in and 39 runs scored in 102 games during an injury-plagued campaign.

The seven-time all-star is a lifetime .274 hitter with 588 HRs, 1,575 RBIs and 1,422 runs in 2,240 games over 17 MLB seasons for the Rangers, Chicago White Sox, Cubs and Orioles.

"I think I can play as long as I want to play," Sosa said. "I'm not going to play until I'm 48 or 49, but I think I have four or five more years left in my body."

Prolific power at plate

Sosa has clubbed 60-plus homers three times during his career, including a career-high 66 for the Cubs in 1998.

Sosa was named the National League's most valuable player that season, but finished second in homers to Mark McGwire, who hit 70.

The combined assault on the record of 61 held by Roger Maris since 1961 prompted allegations of steroid use by both sluggers.

"It was one of those things," Sosa said. "A lot of speculation but no evidence.

"Everybody knows the way I've played the game for years. When it comes time to talk about Mark, I don't have anything to say.

"I know the person I am, I know how to play baseball. My numbers are there, my numbers don't lie."