PITTSBURGH (AP) - Outfielder Craig Monroe and catcher Miguel Perez agreed Tuesday to minor league contracts with the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Monroe hit .202 with eight home runs and 29 RBIs in 58 games with the Twins last season. He has a .253 career average with 112 homers and 417 RBIs in 780 games with the Rangers, Tigers, Cubs and Twins from 2001-08.Monroe had a career-high 28 homers and 92 RBIs for the AL champion Tigers in 2006, but his production slipped to 12 homers and 59 RBIs in 122 games with the Tigers and Cubs in 2007.
Perez spent last season with the Pirates' Double-A Altoona farm club, hitting .281 with two homers and 22 RBIs in 57 games.
The Pirates' payroll is staying in the $50 million range, and they haven't gone after any high-priced offensive talent during the winter. They are hoping to get a comeback season from a power hitter such as Monroe, who turns 32 next month, without having to make a substantial investment in him.
