Left-hander Joe Beimel and first baseman/outfielder Conor Jackson agreed to minor-league contracts Monday with invitations to Texas Rangers spring training, adding to the depth the Rangers have stockpiled at their positions.
The Rangers are in need of a left-handed reliever after Darren Oliver left for Toronto and with Michael Gonzalez still unable to agree to a contract to return. Beimel, who has allowed a .260 career batting average to left-handed hitters, is one of four non-roster players and six lefties overall who will receive a chance to open the season in the Rangers' bullpen.Jackson, meanwhile, is a right-handed-hitting option for the bench with a career .283 average against lefties.He will be competing with former All-Star Brad Hawpe, a left-handed hitter, and Brandon Snyder, a righty hitter, for a spot on the roster.The additions of Beimel and Jackson leave the Rangers with 58 players on the spring roster. Pitchers and catchers report to Surprise, Ariz., on Feb. 22. -- Jeff WilsonSanchez wins caseMiami Marlins pitcher Anibal Sanchez became the first player to win in salary arbitration this year when a three-person panel awarded him $8 million rather than the team's offer of $6.9 million.Sanchez, who is eligible for free agency after this season, was 8-9 with a 3.67 ERA in 32 starts last year, when he struck out 202 in 1961/3 innings. He made $3.7 million.Teams lead 2-1 in decisions following wins over pitchers John Lannan of Washington and Jeff Niemann of Tampa Bay.Orioles-Rockies tradeThe Colorado Rockies acquired veteran right-hander Jeremy Guthrie from the Baltimore Orioles, a move that bolsters their young rotation.In exchange, the Rockies sent reliever Matt Lindstrom and right-hander Jason Hammel to the Orioles.The deal for Guthrie, the Orioles' Opening Day starter three of the past four seasons, was first reported by The Baltimore Sun. Guthrie lost 17 games last season, the most in the American League, and finished with a 4.33 ERA.Guthrie, who turns 33 in April, agreed to a one-year, $8.2 million contract with the Rockies, avoiding an arbitration hearing.Briefly Braves: The team unveiled a new alternate home uniform that is based on the attire worn when the team moved from Milwaukee in 1966. The cream-colored uniforms feature the customary Braves script across the front, but without the tomahawk that is below the nickname on the regular home white jerseys. Mariners: Shawn Camp agreed to a $750,000, one-year contract and Hong-Chih Kuo to a $500,000, one-year deal as Seattle builds bullpen depth.Have more to add? News tip? Tell us
