BOSTON — Free-agent pitcher Alexi Ogando and the Boston Red Sox reached agreement on a one-year deal, pending a physical.

The contract was expected to be worth $1.5 million, plus performance bonuses.

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Craig Biggio, who was elected this month to the Hall of Fame, holds Babe Ruth’s bat in the collections area Friday during his orientation visit to Cooperstown, N.Y. The Associated Press

Ogando, 31, went 2-3 with a 6.84 ERA in 27 relief appearances for Texas last season. He missed much of the year because of an injured right elbow.

Ogando made his major league debut in 2010 with Texas and was an AL All-Star the next season. He pitched five years for Texas, alternating seasons as a starter and reliever.

CRAIG BIGGIO was “kind of speechless” after completing his pre-induction tour of the Baseball Hall of Fame.

“This is crazy!” Biggio, sitting in the Plaque Gallery of the hall. “I’m kind of speechless. It’s an overwhelming feeling, incredible feeling. I don’t know what to say right now.”

Biggio was elected Jan. 6, joining Randy Johnson, Pedro Martinez and John Smoltz.

“We’re in,” said Biggio, glancing at his smiling wife Patty. “We’re honored. Last year, hey, we came really close. Hopefully this year was going to be the year and then it was. I never looked at it as waiting three years. We’re just honored and humbled that we’re in.”

ORIOLES: First baseman Steve Pearce agreed to a $3.7 million, one-year contract and avoided a salary arbitration hearing.

Pearce had asked for $5.4 million and been offered $2 million when the sides exchanged proposed salaries two weeks ago, the largest gap among the 74 players who swapped. The settlement was at the midpoint.

BLUE JAYS: Infielder Ramon Santiago agreed to a minor league contract and will report to major league spring training.

Santiago, 35, hit .246 with two homers and 17 RBI in 75 games for Cincinnati last season, and has a .243 average in 13 seasons that include stints with Detroit (2002-03 and 2006-13) and Seattle (2004-05).

BREWERS: Reliever Neal Cotts have agreed to a $3 million, one-year contract.

Cotts, a 34-year-old left-hander, was 2-9 with a 4.32 ERA and two saves in a career-high 73 relief appearances for Texas last season, a year after going 8-3 with a 1.11 ERA in 58 games with the Rangers.

Cotts has held opponents to a .223 average during the past two seasons with 128 strikeouts in 1232/3 innings.

BRAVES-ROCKIES: Atlanta pulled off another trade in its busy offseason, dealing right-handed pitchers David Hale and Gus Schlosser to Colorado for two minor league catchers, Jose Briceno and Chris O’Dowd.

Hale pitched 45 games for Atlanta last season, going 4-5 with a 3.30 ERA, and had been expected to compete for a spot in the starting rotation.

He became expendable after the Braves reached agreement on a minor league contract with left-hander Eric Stults, according to his agent, Joe Bick. Stults will be invited to the major league camp.

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