Rangers Sign Francisco, Close With Vizquel

11:37pm: An agreement has been reached with Francisco, according to the AP.  He gets $1.615MM.

9:56pm: According to T.R. Sullivan of MLB.com, the Rangers will avoid an arbitration hearing with reliever Frank Francisco.  He is expected to sign a one-year contract on Tuesday.

Sullivan is also reporting that free agent shortstop Omar Vizquel is close to signing with the club and that a deal could be done as soon as Tuesday.  Vizquel will be invited to spring training as a utility infielder and backup to rookie shortstop Elvis Andrus.