The Chicago Cubs have agreed to sign Jake Buchanan to a Minor League contract.

Buchanan was released by the Houston Astros earlier Thursday.

Buchanan, 26, has a 4.06 ERA, 5.1 K/9 and 1.56 K/9 over 44 1/3 career Major League innings.

The Detroit Tigers have re-signed Bobby Parnell to a Minor League contract.

By releasing Parnell and then re-signing them, the Tigers avoided paying him a $100,000 retention bonus.

The Chicago Cubs released Shane Victorino, Munenori Kawasaki and Manny Parra on Tuesday, and then re-signed all three to Minor League contracts.

Victorino, 35, has been slowed this spring by a strained right calf. Victorino had agreed to "re-create spring training" and rehab with the team.

Kawasaki, 34, batted .375 in 19 spring games, hitting six doubles and drawing seven walks.

Parra, 33, did not give up a run over 5 2/3 innings in six spring games, striking out eight and walking one.

Chone Figginswill retire Monday after signing a one-day contract with the Angels.

The 38-year-old utility player and the Angels announced their plan Sunday.

Two days after getting released by the Mets, shortstop Ruben Tejada signed a one-year deal with the Cardinals, the team announced Saturday.

The deal is worth $1.5 million, according to multiple reports.

St. Louis needed another infielder after losing shortstop Jhonny Peralta for the first few months of the season with a torn ligament in his left thumb, which required surgery to repair.

Marlon Byrd has agreed to a Minor League deal with the Cleveland Indians.

Byrd, 38, split last season between the Cincinnati Reds and San Francisco Giants.

He will earn $1 million if he makes the Major League roster and can make more through incentives.

The Cincinnati Reds have brought Alfredo Simon back on a one-year deal.

Simon has three years of experience with the Reds, the first two as a reliever.

The Reds traded him to the Detroit Tigers before the 2015 season, but are in need of starters in the wake of numerous injuries.

"Our history with Alfredo made this a much easier decision," Bryan Price said. "We know what we're getting. He is extremely resilient. His durability is a huge bonus.

"He gives us depth in the rotation. There are just too many question marks now with the readiness of some of our young guys that we don't want to force to the big leagues too soon, and there is the injury component."

Veteran infielder David Freese and the Pirates have agreed to a one-year deal for $3 million, the team announced Friday.

The 32-year-old Freese, an All-Star with the Cardinals in 2012, hit .257 with 27 doubles, 14 homers and 56 RBI last year with the Angels.

The Baltimore Orioles have agreed to a one-year, $5.75 million contract with Pedro Alvarez, according to sources.

Alvarez is expected to serve as Baltimore's designated hitter after committing a Major League-high 23 errors in his first full season at first base for the Pittsburgh Pirates last year.

The Pirates elected not to tender Alvarez, who also made $5.75 million in 2015, a contract.

The Tampa Bay Rays have signed Dan Johnson to a Minor League contract.

Johnson, who played first base for the Rays during parts of the 2008, 2010 and 2011 seasons, is now attempting a career as a knuckleball pitcher.

Tampa Bay recently hired former knuckleballer Charlie Haeger to be a minor league pitching coordinator.