Right-handed pitcher Daniel Bard has agreed to a contract with the Texas Rangers, reports Peter Gammons. Terms of the deal have not been reported, though Jeff Wilson of Fox Sports Southwest reported earlier Friday the two sides were working on a minor league contract. Bard underwent surgery for Thoracic Outlet Syndrome earlier in January, which is a malady that also hampered the careers of Chris Carpenter and Jeremy Bonderman.
MLB roundup: Rangers add Daniel Bard; Red Sox sign Rich Hill
With spring training rapidly approaching, a number of players agreed to minor league contracts on Friday.
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The issue could help explain Bard’s perplexing fall from grace; after posting a 2.62 ERA in 143 games combined in 2010 and 2011, he fell off the map after an attempted switch to the starting rotation. His control disappeared, and was even walking more than a batter per inning in the minors. If he is indeed healthy now, the 28-year-old could factor into a Rangers bullpen that was already strong before his arrival.
Angels ink Torrealba
Catcher Yorvit Torrealba, who spent 2013 with the Rockies, is heading to the Angels on a minor league contract, per Jon Heyman of CBS Sports. Torrealba, 35, hit .240/.295/.285 in 61 games for Colorado last season and has 13 years of big league experience.
Hill signs with Boston
The Boston Red Sox have agreed to a minor league contract with left-handed pitcher Rich Hill, per Richard Sherman of the New York Post. The deal will be worth $840,000 plus incentives if he reaches the majors, and he can opt out if not on the MLB roster on either May 15 or June 30. Hill, a 33-year-old Massachusetts native, spent 2013 with the Cleveland Indians and posted a 6.28 ERA in 63 games despite striking out 51 batters in 38⅔ innings.
More on Hill: Visit Over The Monster
He previously pitched for the Red Sox from 2010-2012, but underwent Tommy John surgery in 2011; the Red Sox kept him around while he was recovering and saw him return in 2012, but had no space for him on their roster in 2013. Hill will likely be in the mix for a bullpen role in Boston in 2014.
Clark signs in New York
The Mets on Friday announced the signing of infielder/outfielder Matt Clark to a minor league contract that includes an invitation as a non-roster player to spring training. Clark, who turned 27 in December, hit .238/.328/.457 with 25 home runs for the Chunichi Dragons in Japan's Central League in 2013.
Clark was drafted out of LSU in the 12th round in 2008 by the Padres, and hit .282/.359/.494 with 102 home runs in five minor league seasons in San Diego's system, including two years (2011-12) in Triple-A.
Colorado signs Masset
The Rockies have signed right-handed pitcher Nick Masset to a minor league deal worth $1.2 million with $800,000 in performance bonuses, reports Sherman. Masset can opt out if he's not on the MLB roster on June 30. The 31-year-old previously pitched for the Cincinnati Reds, who acquired him in 2008. Masset hasn't thrown a pitch in the majors since 2011 due to a shoulder injury; he had surgery to repair a torn anterior capsule in Sept. 2012. Prior to the injury, he had been a effective reliever for the Reds. He posted a 3.07 ERA in 241 games over parts of four seasons while striking out nearly a batter per inning. If healthy, he will compete for a spot in the Rockies' bullpen.
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