PITTSBURGH (AP) - Utility infielder Ramon Vazquez agreed Friday to a $4 million, two-year contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates 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.
Right-hander Denny Bautista became a free agent when the Pirates did not offer him a contract for 2009.
Bautista appeared in 35 games for the Pirates after he was acquired from the Detroit Tigers on June 25, going 4-3 with a 6.10 ERA. The 28-year-old right-hander went 4-4 with a 5.22 ERA in 51 games combined for Detroit and Pittsburgh.
