The Texas Rangers signed free-agent right-handed pitchers Jose Contreras and Nate Adcock and outfielder Bryan Petersen to 2014 minor league contracts with non-roster invitations to major league spring training, the team announced Thursday.
Contreras, who will turn 42 on Friday, spent last season with the Pittsburgh and Boston organizations. His only major league action came with the Pirates in May, when he allowed five runs over five innings in seven relief outings. Contreras had Tommy John surgery on his right elbow in June of 2012 and spent spring training rehabbing.
Conteras has a 78-67 career record with a 4.57 ERA over 299 games (175 starts) with Yankees, White Sox, Rockies, Phillies and Pirates. If he appears for the Rangers next season, Contreras would be second to only Nolan Ryan among oldest players in club history.
Adcock, 25, split last season in the Kansas City and Arizona organizations, going a combined 8-6 with a 6.67 ERA in 26 games (19 starts) for Omaha and Reno in the Pacific Coast League.
Petersen, 27, batted .275 with 33 doubles, eight home runs and 49 RBIs in 136 games with New Orleans (AAA) in the Miami Marlins organization last season.
Winter league update: Neftali Feliz has a 1.80 ERA in five innings pitched with six strikeouts over 5 relief appearances for Este of the Dominican Winter League. ... OF Engel Beltre is hitting .364 (8-for-22) with two doubles, four RBIs and three runs scored over his last six games with Licey. ... LHP Joseph Ortiz has four straight scoreless appearances (4 2/3 innings pitched) with a pair of saves for La Guaira in the Venezuelan Winter League.
