Brett Tomko rejoined the Padres on Friday six days after he was placed on unconditional waivers by the Royals, as reported by the Associated Press. Tomko said he spoke with several teams and chose the Padres because he lives in suburban Poway. ?It came down to here and ?people will think I?m crazy? the Yankees,? Tomko said before the Padres played the Seattle Mariners. ?It definitely was enticing, but like I told them, it?s nice to be home. I mean, to be able to pitch at home is always a great thing.?

The Mets agreed to a contract with first-round draft pick Ike Davis and assigned the former Arizona State first baseman to Class-A Brooklyn on Tuesday, according to an Associated Press report. Davis gets a $1,575,000 signing bonus after batting .385 with 16 homers and 76 RBI's in 51 games for the Sun Devils this year. He also went 4-1 with a 2.53 ERA and four saves on the mound.

The Tampa Bay Rays today signed shortstop Tim Beckham, the first overall pick in the 2008 First-Year Player Draft. Beckham, 18, was drafted by the Rays out of Griffin High School in Griffin, GA on June 5. Beckham, who received a $6.15 million signing bonus, will report to the Rays Appalachian League affiliate in Princeton, W.V., to begin his professional career. Baseball America ranked Beckham as the No. 1 high school prospect in the country entering the draft. The right-handed hitter batted .482 (53-for-110) with six home runs, 13 doubles, 41 RBI, 58 runs scored, and 23 steals in his senior season, leading Griffin to the Region 4-A Championship and to its first state championship series since 1981. "We are thrilled to add an athlete of Tim's talent and character to our organization," said Andrew Friedman, Rays executive vice president of baseball operations. "That we were able to conclude the signing process just two weeks after the draft is a testament both to the relationship that our scouting staff formed with Tim and his family, and, of course, to Tim's enthusiasm for the game. He has true five-tool potential, and we look forward to helping him develop his unique abilities." Among high school prospects entering the draft, Beckham was ranked by Baseball America as the No. 2 ?best pure hitter,? the No. 3 ?best defensive player,? and No. 2 ?closest to the majors.? ESPN.com and Baseball Prospectus ranked him as the No. 1 prospect in the 2008 draft. Beckham hit .512 as a junior with six homers, six triples, nine doubles, 39 RBI, and 20 stolen bases, earning honors as the 2007 Baseball America Youth Player of the Year. Last summer he was named the MVP of the Aflac All-American High School Baseball Classic in San Diego after leading the East to victory. Last August, Baseball America ranked him as the ?best batting prospect? at the 2007 Area Code Games, held in Long Beach, Calif. Baseball America also tabbed him the No. 1 prospect in the East Coast Showcase in August 2007, ?best batting prospect? and No. 3 prospect overall at the 2007 World Wood Bat Association tournament in Marietta, Ga., and the No. 4 prospect in his class at the 2006 WWBA tournament. Beckham became the first No. 1 selection to be drafted out of a Georgia school since Mike Ivie (San Diego Padres) in 1970, and the third such player overall (also Ron Blomberg, New York Yankees, 1967). The Rays also drafted Tim?s oldest brother Jeremy Beckham, an infielder out of Georgia Southern University, in the 17th round. Jeremy signed with the Rays on June 10 and is currently playing for the Princeton Devil Rays. Twenty-four of the Rays 50 selections have now been signed to contracts.

The Yankees signed right-hander Sidney Ponson to a minor league contract on Wednesday, according to The Associated Press. GM Brian Cashman was looking to add depth to the team's pitching staff after losing Chien-Ming Wang to a serious foot injury. Ponson performed well on the mound, going 4-1 with a 3.88 ERA for the Rangers earlier this season but was released because he was a disruption to the team.

Morgan Ensberg signed a minor league deal with the Indians on Tuesday after getting cut by the Yankees earlier this month, according to an Associated Press report. Ensberg was assigned to Buffalo of the International League.

Former Orioles' outfielder Jay Gibbons confirmed on Sunday that he will sign a contract with the Long Island Ducks of the independent Atlantic League this week, according to The Baltimore Sun. "I'm looking forward to getting back and playing ball again," said Gibbons. "It's been 10 weeks, so hopefully I can get out on the field some time this week." He was released by the Orioles in March, several months after he admitted using human growth hormone.

The Indians on Saturday signed first-round draft choice Lonnie Chisenhall, an infielder who resumed his career after being convicted of burglary and kicked out of college, as reported by the Associated Press. Chisenhall hit .410 with eight homers and 66 RBI's this spring at Pitt Community College in Greenville, N.C., following his dismissal from the U. of South Carolina.

The Pirates have signed draft picks Benjamin Gonzalez, Christopher Aure, Brian Leach and Edwin Roman. Gonzalez, a shortstop from Puerto Rico BB Academy High School, was a seventh round selection. Aure, a lefthanded pitcher from North Pole High School in Alaska, was a fifteenth round pick. Leach, a righthanded pitcher from University of Southern Mississippi, was selected in the twenty-fifth round. Roman, a centerfielder from Puerto Rico BB Academy High School, was drafted in the twenty-seventh round.

Chris Aguila is set to join the Mets. He?ll replace Abraham Nunez, who was designated for assignment after Tuesday night?s game. Aguila is hitting .308 with 17 homers and 40 RBI as a Zephyr in 221 at-bats and has slugged eight homers in his last 11 games. He?s played nearly exclusively in left field for New Orleans.

The Mariners on Monday fired Hitting Coach Jeff Pentland and replaced him with special assistant Lee Elia, as reported by the Associated Press. Mariners' GM Bill Bavasi said he hoped a ?different voice? would help the team with the worst record in the majors. Elia was Seattle?s batting coach from 1993-97.