Jeff Francis returns to Rockies on 1-year deal

Pitcher Jeff Francis has agreed to a one-year major league deal with the Colorado Rockies, according to Jerry Crasnick of ESPN.com and Baseball America. Crasnick reports the deal will be completed pending a physical.

Francis, who turns 32 in one month, has played 174 of his 205 major-league games with the Rockies after making his major league debut in 2004. After spending 2011 with the Kansas City Royals, Francis began the 2012 season with the Louisville Bats, the triple-A affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds. He was 3-5 with an ERA of 3.80 in Louisville before being released in early June.

Shortly thereafter, the Rockies signed Francis for the remainder of the 2012 season. The left-hander went 6-7 in 24 starts for Colorado, posting an ERA of 5.58.

Over his eight-year major-league career, Francis has a record of 67-73, an ERA of 4.86, and 770 strikeouts over 1,178 innings pitched. His best major-league season was likely 2007, in which he was 17-9 with a 4.22 ERA.