The Minnesota Twins announced today that they have agreed to terms with designated hitter Ruben Sierra on a one-year contract with an invite to Major League Spring Training. Sierra, 40, batted .229 (39-170) with 14 runs scored, 12 doubles, four homers and 29 RBI in 61 games with the New York Yankees last season. The four-time American League All-Star has 15 career multi-homer games and has hit nine grand slams since he made his major league debut in 1986. Sierra's 306 career homers rank sixth on the All-Time list for homers by a switch-hitter.

Second baseman/outfielder Jerry Hairston Jr. agreed to a one-year, $2.3 million deal Monday with the Chicago Cubs and avoided a salary arbitration hearing. Hairston, acquired by the Cubs on Feb. 2 last year from Baltimore for Sammy Sosa, hit .261 in 114 games last season with four homers and 30 RBIs. He appeared in 44 games at second and 58 in the outfield, including 48 in center field. He was slowed in August by a problem with an elbow ligament. Hairston made $1.85 million last season. He asked for $2.6 million in arbitration and the Cubs countered with an offer of $1.95 million.

The Tampa Bay Devil Rays have agreed to terms with left-handed hitting infielder/outfielder Russell Branyan on a minor league contract with an invitation to major league spring training, it was announced today. Branyan, 30, has hit 93 career major league home runs with Cleveland, Cincinnati and Milwaukee.

Roger Clemens made an unexpected appearance at the start of the Houston Astros' minicamp on Monday, pitching batting practice to prospects that included his oldest son, Koby. The 43-year-old right-hander hasn't decided whether he'll play a 23rd season. He led the major leagues with a 1.87 ERA last year but was plagued by back and hamstring problems late in the season. He limped off the field after just two innings in the World Series opener. Clemens said Monday his back and hamstring were healed, but he has doubts whether he could last another full season. "There will be a week I get up and I feel like I can do it again and then the next week, I don't want to get out in the outfield and start running those poles and doing those things," Clemens said. "If last year's World Series was it for me, I'm more than happy. I know we didn't reach our ultimate goal, but it was a lot of fun. I have a lot to think about."

The Boston Red Sox have agreed to a $3 million, one-year deal with shortstop Alex Gonzalez, according to a report in the Boston Herald. The newspaper cited multiple sources but did not identify them in a story posted Monday night on its Web site. Gonzalez, who reportedly will take a required physical exam Tuesday or Wednesday, batted .264 with five home runs and 45 RBI last season for the Florida Marlins. In Boston, he would replace Edgar Renteria, who was traded to the Atlanta Braves in December.

Theo Epstein, who was reinstalled as Boston's GM last week, told Towers on Saturday that he wants to wait and talk to Wells after the Red Sox report before pursuing any trades. Wells has told the Sox he wants to finish his career on the West Coast rather than in Boston.

Reds interim general manager Brad Kullman reiterated Sunday evening the team now has no plans to trade Austin Kearns. That his name came up at all, Narron said, suggests something about him. "Everybody in baseball has the idea that this guy is going to have a big year," Narron said. "If I was Austin, I wouldn't like hearing my name brought up about being traded. But the good thing about it is it means a lot of people in baseball like him. That part of it should be flattering."

All-Star catcher Mike Piazza agreed Sunday to a $2 million, one-year contract with the San Diego Padres, giving the defending NL West champions a marquee player they think can still contribute. Piazza, 37, had been interested in signing a free-agent deal with an AL team to become a designated hitter. Instead, he'll stay in the NL and return to the West Coast for the first time since the Los Angeles Dodgers traded him to Florida in 1998. The 12-time All-Star holds the major league record for most career home runs by a catcher (374). He has 397 homers overall, and is a career .311 hitter. The deal is expected to be announced on Monday. It includes a mutual option for 2007 at $8 million. "The Padres told Mike that he could pretty much catch as much as he wanted to," said Piazza's agent, Dan Lozano.

Padres general manager Kevin Towers said this week that he's pursuing left-hander David Wells. The outspoken Wells, a San Diegan, had a stint with the Padres two years ago and apparently didn't fall out of favor.

Omar Minaya has interest in Jose Contreras, and the White Sox will listen, considering Brandon McCarthy is ready to step in. However, the Sox surely would insist on Lastings Milledge, and a Mets official insisted: "Milledge isn't going anywhere. He's going to be our leftfielder in 2007."