MLB roundup: Indians sign two to minor-league deals
A few notable free agents signed minor-league contracts recently, and the Cleveland Indians and Colorado Rockies are taking that path.
The Indians announced Monday that they signed free agent infielder/outfielder Ryan Raburn and outfielder Ben Francisco to minor league contracts with non-roster invitations to spring training.
Raburn, 31, has spent his major league career with the Detroit Tigers. He has a .256 career batting average with 95 doubles, 54 home runs and 216 RBI in 566 games since 2004.
Francisco, 31, has a career .257 average in 1,535 at-bats with 104 doubles, 49 home runs and 189 RBI in 542 games with Cleveland, the Philadelphia Phillies, Toronto Blue Jays, Houston Astros and Tampa Bay Rays since 2007.
Meanwhile, the Rockies offered a minor league contract to free agent catcher Yorvit Torrealba, according to MLB.com.
Torrealba played for the Rockies from 2006-2009 and was their starting catcher during their World Series run in 2007. Torrealba hit ,227 with four homer last season for the Rangers.
--Francisco Liriano, who agreed to a two-year, $12.75 million contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates in December, has now agreed to have his salary reduced in the first year of the deal if an injury to the right arm that was detected last month causes him to miss playing time. If he remains healthy all season, he'll collect the full $12.75 million.
--Texas Rangers outfielder David Murphy has agreed to a one-year contract worth $5,775,000, avoiding arbitration, MLB.com reported. He can become a free agent after this season, and the two sides may try to reach agreement on a multiyear deal later.
