Vazquez signs with Pirates

PITTSBURGH (AP) -- Utility infielder Ramon Vazquez signed a $4 million, two-year contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday after batting a career-high .290 for the Texas Rangers last season.

Vazquez can play all four infield positions. He had six homers and 40 RBIs in 105 games last season and has a .257 career average in 595 games with the Mariners, Padres, Red Sox, Indians and Rangers.

The 32-year-old Vazquez played 70 games at third base, 26 at shortstop, 11 at second base and one at first base last season, his second with Texas.

Pirates general manager Neal Huntington said Vazquez "provides us depth and protection at all positions in the infield. His ability, versatility and veteran presence is a quality addition to our organization."

Vazquez, a free agent, was the only player with major league experience added by the Pirates during this week's winter meetings in Las Vegas. The Pirates and Vazquez reached the deal this week, but the infielder needed to pass a physical before the team announced his signing.

The Pirates also added former Cubs minor league pitcher of the year Donnie Veal, a left-hander, in the Rule 5 draft and lost left-hander Kyle Bloom to Detroit.

Veal was 5-10 with a 4.52 ERA in 29 starts last season for Double-A Tennessee. Bloom was 5-8 with a 4.19 ERA for Double-A Altoona, but pitched well in the offseason Hawaiian league against mostly younger prospects.

Farsworth reaches deal with Royals

LAS VEGAS (AP) -- Relief pitcher Kyle Farnsworth and the Kansas City Royals reached a preliminary agreement on a $9.25 million, two-year contract.

The deal is pending a physical, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press on Thursday. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the agreement had not been finalized.

Farnsworth was traded July 30 from the New York Yankees to Detroit for catcher Ivan Rodriguez. The hard-throwing right-hander went 2-3 with a 4.48 ERA and one save in 61 appearances overall last season, then filed for free agency.

Born in Wichita, Kan., Farnsworth would get $4.25 million next year and $4.5 million in 2010. The deal includes a $5.25 million club option for 2011 with a $500,000 buyout, and Farnsworth could make an additional $750,000 per season in performance bonuses.

The Royals also agreed to a $1.8 million, one-year contract with Horacio Ramirez and a $640,000, one-year deal with pitcher Doug Waechter, made a minor trade with Seattle and completed another deal with Houston.

Ramirez, a 29-year-old lefty, made 15 relief appearances with the Royals this season. He was 1-1 with a 2.59 ERA in 24 1-3 innings.

Waechter, a 27-year-old righty, was 4-2 with a 3.69 ERA in 48 relief appearances for Florida this season. He allowed 63 hits in 63 1-3 innings.

"Our expectation is that Horacio Ramirez will be a part of our starting rotation in 2009," Royals general manager Dayton Moore said. "Waechter will come in to provide depth to our relief corps."

Ramirez can earn an additional $900,000 based on starts ($150,000 each for 15, 18, 21, 24, 27 and 30), $250,000 based on innings ($50,000 each for 185 and 190, $100,000 for 200), and $500,000 based on relief appearances ($100,000 each for 17, 25, 33, 42 and 50).

The Royals also selected left-handed pitcher Jose Lugo from the Triple-A Rochester roster of the Minnesota Twins in the winter-meeting draft and traded him to Seattle for cash.

Kansas City acquired outfielder Jordan Parraz from Houston to finish the trade that sent minor league pitcher Tyler Lumsden to Houston on Nov. 24 for a player to be named or cash.

The 24-year-old Parraz will be assigned to Double-A Northwest Arkansas. He hit .289 with 31 doubles, three triples, six home runs and 42 RBIs last year for advanced Class A Salem in the Carolina League.

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