The Athletics signed catcher Kurt Suzuki to a four-year contract extension on Friday worth a guaranteed $16.25 million. The contract kicks in this season, superseding the one-year $420,000 deal Suzuki had in place. There's a vesting option for 2014 based on Suzuki's starting a minimum number of games in 2013.

The Nationals have agreed to terms on a contract with Cuban pitcher Yunesky Maya. The deal is contingent on Maya passing a physical next week. The right-handed pitcher defected from his homeland last September.

Rocco Baldelli signed a Minor League contract on Monday with Tampa Bay, the team that drafted and developed him. The former first-round draftee has been assigned to the Class A Charlotte Stone Crabs of the Florida State League. Baldelli, 28, had been employed by Tampa Bay in a roving instructor role for the first few months of this season. Now healthy, the outfielder hopes to resume his playing career and make it back to the big leagues. Rays manager Joe Maddon has watched the way Baldelli has been swinging the bat while contemplating his comeback, and said there's significant upside to the effort. "If you watch him work out, it's incredible," Maddon said. "This guy's still got great bat speed -- he's very strong. Of course, the problem with him physically manifests itself in a way you can't use him often, but rested, picking the right spots with this guy, he can be very intriguing. He's got enormous power as a hitter. Of course, he doesn't run like he used to. But even defensively, if he's got that strength level up, he can give you a good bolt in the outfield."

The Astros made a splash on the international market Wednesday when they signed Dominican outfielder Ariel Ovando to a contract. Baseball America reported that Ovando's signing bonus is between $2.6 million and $2.8 million, but the complete terms of the deal haven't been released. "We're extremely excited to get Ariel into the Astros organization," general manager Ed Wade said. "Ariel profiles as a middle-of-the-order power hitter with excellent defensive skills."

The Braves have signed outfielder Willy Taveras to a minor-league contract. Taveras has been assigned to Triple-A Gwinnett and went 0-for-2 with a strikeout in his debut on Sunday. It's a move that comes without financial risk, since Oakland is paying most of his $4 million salary this season.