The Rangers on Friday signed infielder Will Middlebrooks, a Greenville native and Texarkana Liberty-Eylau High School graduate, to a minor league deal with an invitation to major league spring training.

Middlebrooks, 28, was once considered one of the top prospects in baseball, but has struggled to meet expectations. He appeared in just 10 games for Milwaukee in 2016, hitting .111 in 27 at-bats. He came up primarily as a third baseman, but has played all infield spots. He could be a depth option for the Rangers at first base and could be a potential utility player, particularly if the club ends up trading Jurickson Profar for a pitcher or center fielder.

The Rangers also re-signed sure-handed infielder Doug Bernier to a minor league deal, also with an invitation to major league spring training. Bernier spent last year at Triple-A Round Rock.

With Mitch Moreland a free agent, the Rangers don't have a first baseman set for 2017. They have Profar, Ryan Rua and Joey Gallo on the 40-man roster. They have also been rumored as at least lurking in the Edwin Encarnacion sweepstakes, though center field and starting pitching appear to be the team's biggest priorities. Middlebrooks could give the Rangers more insurance at first if they end up without a more accomplished player.

Boston traded Middlebrooks to San Diego for catcher Ryan Hanigan after the 2014 season and San Diego did not tender him a contract after 2015. He signed with Milwaukee last year.

Middlebrooks was once ranked as Boston's top prospect and the 51st overall in baseball. He hit 15 home runs in 2012 and 17 in 2013, but has batted .197 with just 11 homers over 535 major league plate appearances since. He has 143 strikeouts in that span.

Middlebrooks' wife, CBS sportscaster Jenny Dell, called the deal with the Rangers a "dream come true" for her husband in a tweet (seen below):