Just about two and a half hours before Friday’s non-tender deadline, the Texas Rangers scored their first victory of the day.

The Rangers and Dane Dunning agreed to a $2.66 million deal that has the opportunity to increase with incentives.

Dunning is taking the maximum 20% pay cut allowed by the collective bargaining agreement in order to stay with Texas.

Last season was a struggle for Dunning who finished with a career-high 5.31 ERA in just 95 innings pitched.

In September of last season, Dunning was optioned down to AAA for the first time in his tenure with the Rangers.

Dunning’s struggles came just a year after being named the Rangers pitcher of the year after he finished with a 3.70 ERA in 172.2 IP while helping Texas win the World Series championship.

The contract is the beginning of what is already shaping up to be a payroll cut for the Rangers as ownership has expressed wanting to get the team below the $241 million luxury tax.

Dunning was the most interesting case when it came to the Rangers arbitration-eligible players but once again, Chris Young stays true to his word that you can never have enough pitching depth.

Keeping Dunning will allow the Rangers to have an experienced versatile option in either their bullpen or rotation.