The Baltimore Orioles have invited Alex Gonzalez to Spring Training.

The veteran infielder inked a Minor League deal with the Orioles.

Gonzalez, who will turn 37 in February, spent the last two seasons with the Milwaukee Brewers, though he appeared in just 65 games during that span.

The Los Angeles Angels have avoided arbitration by agreeing to contracts with David Freese and Kevin Jepsen.

The club will pay Freese $5.05 million in 2014, while Jepsen will earn $1.462 million.

Freese, who made $3.15 million last season and is two seasons away from free agency, is coming off a down year with the St. Louis Cardinals.

The Chicago Cubs have reportedly added depth to their starting rotation by agreeing to a contract with Jason Hammel.

Hammel, who still needs to pass a physical, would earn $6 million in 2014 under the deal.

The right-hander can receive another $1 million through incentives.

The Cincinnati Reds have agreed to sign Roger Bernadina to a Minor League deal with an invitation to Spring Training.

Bernadina will earn $1 million if he makes the Major League roster.

If he does not, he has three opportunities to opt out of his deal: March 18, March 28, and July 1.

James McDonald has agreed to a Minor League contract with the Chicago Cubs.

McDonald became a free agent in September when he refused an outright assignment from the Pittsburgh Pirates.

The Miami Marlins have signed Reed Johnson to a Minor League contract with an invitation to Spring Training.

Johnson is an 11-year veteran and a .282 career hitter. Last season he batted .244 in 74 games for the Atlanta Braves.

The Kansas City Royals have agreed to a one-year, $1.475 million deal with Aaron Crow.

The agreement leaves Greg Holland as their only arbitration-eligible player.

Crow's deal includes a $50,000 bonus if he is named an All-Star, which he was in 2011. Crow had asked for $1.7 million and the Royals offered the same $1.28 million he made last year.

Shin-Soo Choo was hit by a Major League-leading 26 pitches last season and he plans to continue that approach with the Texas Rangers.

The Rangers signed Choo to a seven-year, $130 million contract this offseason.

"Hit by pitch is part of baseball," Choo said. "I can't do anything. If I get scared about hit by pitch, I might change my approach, and I can't do anything. Pitchers can throw inside. I can hit it, or I get hit."

B.J. Upton had a very disappointing first season with the Atlanta Braves, but he is hoping work with hitting coach Greg Walker will reverse his woes.

Upton finished the 2013 season with a .184 average, nine home runs and a .557 OPS.

Walker gained some encouragement after he traveled to Tampa earlier this week to watch Upton take some swings.

"The swings I saw work for me," Walker said. "It was a lot different than what we saw last year. It was a lot more simple, with a lot less moving parts."

The owners of the New York Mets may be finally putting their financial woes behind them, according to a report.

Fred Wilpon and Saul Katz are close to refinancing their infamous $250 million load, sources said.

"This will be oversubscribed," a source considering investing in the Bank of America refinancing said.

The refinance would likely close by March.