Closer Joe Nathan and Texas have agreed to a $14.5 million, two-year deal that includes an option for a third year. The righthander spent the past eight years with Minnesota but missed the 2010 season after Tommy John surgery on his pitching elbow.
In 581 major league games for San Francisco (1999-2000, 2002-03) and Minnesota (2004-11), Nathan has a 48-23 record with a 2.87 ERA and 261 saves. He is fifth among active pitchers in saves behind Mariano Rivera (603), Francisco Cordero (327), Jason Isringhausen (300) and Francisco Rodriguez (291).
Braves sign 14 to minor league deals • Atlanta signed 14 players to minor league contracts Tuesday, including righthanded reliever Adam Russell.
Russell pitched in 36 games for Tampa Bay last season, going 1-2 with a 3.03 ERA. Other signees include righthander Jason Rice; lefthanders Dusty Hughes, Yohan Flande and Jose Lugo; catchers J.C. Boscan and Jose Yepez; infielders Ernesto Mejia, Drew Sutton, Josh Wilson and Ian Gac; and outfielders Luis Durango, Jordan Parraz and Brahiam Maldonado.
Marlins, Padres make trade • Miami has acquired lefthander Wade LeBlanc from San Diego for catcher John Baker.
LeBlanc went 5-6 with a 4.63 ERA for the Padres last season, winning three of his last four decisions. Baker was limited to 16 games last season after having elbow reconstruction surgery in September 2010.
Loud music may have prompted stabbing • Rotterdam authorities say an argument about loud music could be the reason Seattle Mariners outfielder Greg Halman was stabbed to death early Monday.
Investigators say loud music "appears to be the reason (Halman) walked downstairs" from his apartment to the one where he was found stabbed. Halman's brother Jason is still a suspect in the death of the Dutch baseball player.
Rivera might need vocal cord surgery • Yankees reliever Mariano Rivera may need surgery to repair his vocal cords. Rivera, 41, said he has had trouble with his voice for nearly a month, though he is not ill. It's not known how serious the surgery would be or whether the recovery time would impact when he reports to spring training.
From news services
