Richards will serve as a multi-inning relief pitcher for Texas, Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Relief was Richards' presumed role after the Rangers signed him last week, but his history has a starter left the door open for that role. Manager Chris Woodward put an end to that speculation Sunday. "He's a multi-inning guy," Woodward said. "Definitely a reliever. One thing we didn't want to do and he didn't want to do is kind of go back and forth -- starter, reliever, starter, reliever through the season. He just wants to be strictly one way and then obviously our need was really in the relief role." The right-hander performed in both roles for Boston last season, but he thrived as a reliever, posting a 3.42 ERA in 18 appearances while allowing just one home run over 26.1 innings.