A's sign free-agent Sheets

The Oakland Athletics added another veteran arm to their young rotation, agreeing to terms Tuesday with free-agent righty Ben Sheets on a $10 million, one-year contract.

The 31-year-old Sheets has been plagued by injuries.

The four-time NL All-Star didn't pitch in the majors last season while recovering from elbow surgery but last week held a pitching session for several scouts in Louisiana.

The A's sent two representatives to watch Sheets throw, director of player personnel Billy Owens and minor league roving pitching instructor Gil Patterson.

"They liked what they saw," assistant general manager David Forst said in a phone interview.

"Enough to lead us to think that we should pursue this."

Sheets spent his first eight major league seasons with the Milwaukee Brewers, going 86-83 with a 3.72 ERA. He struck out a career-best 264 batters in 2004.

Oakland, which recently re-signed two-time All-Star Justin Duchscherer, still had a spot to fill in the rotation. The A's were set to formally introduce Sheets at a news conference later Tuesday.

Sheets will join Duchscherer, Brett Anderson and Dallas Braden - with the other rotation spot likely to be filled by either Gio Gonzalez or Trevor Cahill.

Around the horn

• A person familiar with the negotiations says slugger Jim Thome and the Minnesota Twins have agreed to a one-year, $1.5 million contract. The person requested anonymity Tuesday because the team was not ready to make the announcement. Thome's contract also includes performance bonuses.

• Outfielder Jeremy Hermida and the Red Sox have avoided salary arbitration by agreeing to a non-guaranteed $3,345,000, one-year contract.

Hermida, who turns 26 on Saturday, is projected to be the Red Sox fourth outfielder.

They obtained him from the Florida Marlins on Nov. 5.

• A person familiar with the negotiations says outfielder Xavier Nady and the Chicago Cubs have reached preliminary agreement on a one-year, $3.3 million contract. Nady's contract is contingent on him passing a physical.

He underwent elbow reconstructive surgery for the second time in his career last July while with the New York Yankees. He played in only seven games.

• The Yankees acquired outfielder Greg Golson from the Texas Rangers for infielder Mitch Hilligoss in a swap of 24-year-old minor leaguers. Texas also got between $15,000 and $20,000 cash in the deal trade.

Golson hit .258 with 20 stolen bases in Triple-A. Hilligoss hit .233 in 51 games for Class A Tampa last season and missed action because of a broke right hand.

• The St. Louis Cardinals have invited left-handed pitcher Rich Hill, formerly of the Chicago Cubs and Baltimore Orioles, to spring training. The 30-year-old Hill agreed to terms on a minor league contract after going 3-3 with Baltimore last season.

• Catcher Carlos Ruiz finalized an $8.85 million, three-year contract with the Philadelphia Phillies, avoiding salary arbitration.

Ruiz hit .255 last season with 26 doubles, a career-high nine home runs and 43 RBI in 107 games.