ARLINGTON, Texas — Right-hander Daniel Bard agreed to a minor league contract with the Texas Rangers that includes an invitation to big league spring training.

Bard, who has spent his major league career with Boston and also pitched for the Portland Sea Dogs, is coming off surgery a month ago for Thoracic Outlet Syndrome. His activities are expected to be limited during spring training.

The deal was announced Monday, when the Rangers also agreed to a minor league contract with right-hander Armando Galarraga.

Bard was 10-19 with a 3.67 ERA in 211 games for the Red Sox from 2009-13. He was designated for assignment by Boston on Sept. 1, and claimed off waivers by the Chicago Cubs on Sept. 4.

 

YANKEES: Shortstop Derek Jeter took on-field batting practice for the first time since his 2013 season was cut short by injuries.

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Jeter hit with authority to all fields during a five-round, 39-swing session at the Yankees’ minor league complex in Tampa, Fla. Jeter also took grounders at shortstop for the first time this year, fielding 34 balls at his usual position.

“Everything is good so far, knock on wood,” Jeter said.

Jeter, who turns 40 in June, had hit in an indoor batting cage and fielded grounders on infield grass the previous two weeks. He was limited to 17 games last year after breaking an ankle during the 2012 playoffs.

Jeter broke his left ankle during the 2012 AL Championship Series against the Detroit Tigers. He played in just five spring-training games last year and broke the ankle again in April during rehabilitation.

 

RAYS: Right-hander Jeremy Hellickson had surgery on his pitching elbow and is expected to miss the first 6 to 8 weeks of the season.

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Hellickson experienced discomfort in his elbow after beginning his offseason throwing program in December. He tried to work through it, but when it persisted during bullpen sessions in mid-January, Hellickson contacted the team trainer.

 

ANGELS: Third baseman David Freese and reliever Kevin Jepsen reached arbitration deals with Los Angeles.

 

DIAMONDBACKS: Arizona extended the contracts of Manager Kirk Gibson and GM Kevin Towers.

Contracts for both had been set to expire after the coming season.

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Arizona avoided arbitration with Gerardo Parra by agreeing to a one-year, $4.85 million contract with the two-time Gold Glove outfielder.

 

ROCKIES: Colorado completed minor league contracts with 31-year-old right-handed relievers Manny Corpas and Nick Masset.

 

METS: Reliever Kyle Farnsworth agreed to a minor league contract with New York and will report to spring training as a nonroster player.

Farnsworth, 37, was 3-1 with two saves and a 4.70 ERA in 48 games last year with Tampa Bay and Pittsburgh, which signed him in August after he was released by the Rays. His fastball averaged 95-98 mph early in the season, according to fansgraphs.com, then dropped to 92-96 mph later in the year.

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NATIONALS: Right-hander Doug Fister’s arbitration-avoiding contract with Washington is for one year with a base salary of $7.2 million.

Fister also can earn performance bonuses of $75,000 each for reaching 200 and 210 innings pitched.

 

ORIOLES: Baltimore signed veteran infielder Alex Gonzalez to a minor league contract with an invitation to big league spring training camp.


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