White Sox signed SS Omar Vizquel to a one-year, $1.375 million contract.
The deal makes sense for both parties. The White Sox ink a veteran who offers the club a stellar defensive option off the bench at shortstop, second base or third base. The 42-year-old Vizquel hit only .266/.316/.345 in 177 at-bats last season, but his defense and mentorship of youngsters Alexei Ramirez and Gordon Beckham should make the contract worthwhile for the South Siders.
Athletics signed INF Dallas McPherson to a minor league contract.
The deal comes with an invitation to spring training. McPherson, who at one time was a highly touted prospect, has battled injuries throughout his career and is now 29 years old. He has 150 home runs and a .586 career slugging percentage in 608 minor league games but also carries a lousy .245/.298/.458 career batting line on the major league level.
Royals re-signed RHP Juan Abreu to a minor league contract.
Abreu, 24, recently became a minor league free agent. Armed with an impressive heater, Abreu posted a 1.69 ERA and 28/14 K/BB ratio in 20 relief appearances with Class A Wilmington, but struggled to a 5.75 ERA in 16 games upon a promotion to Double-A Northwest Arkansas.
Astros purchased the contracts of RHPs Matt Nevarez, Evan Englebrook and Henry Villar.
The three are protected from the upcoming Rule 5 draft. Nevarez, a 22-year-old reliever, was acquired in the Ivan Rodriguez trade in August. He posted a 2.28 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and 50/15 K/BB ratio in 35 innings between Class A Hickory (Texas) and Class A Lexington (Astros) in 2009.
Astros signed RHP Jose Valdez to a minor league contract.
He was also added to Houston's 40-man roster. Valdez, 26, was 3-2 with a 3.43 ERA in 43 relief appearances between Double-A Trenton and Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes Barre in the Yankees organization in 2009. Though he has pitched in the minor leagues for parts of seven seasons, 2009 was his first at the Triple-A level.
Cubs purchased the contracts of LHP John Gaub, RHPs Blake Parker and Rafael Dolis, OF James Adduci and C Welington Castillo.
The five are now protected from December's Rule 5 draft. Armed with a fastball clocked as high as 100 mph, the 21-year-old Dolis surely would have been chosen had he been exposed. That said, he's still a bit of a project, posting a 3.79 ERA and 75/53 K/BB ratio in 99 2/3 innings with Class A Daytona in 2009.
Royals resigned catcher Vance Wilson to a minor league contract.
Wilson missed the beginning of spring training with a right elbow injury. The 36-year old batted .270/.342/.461 in 229 at-bats for Double-A Northwest Arkansas. He'll compete for a major league spot in spring training.
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