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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Texas takes gamble on Astacio

Associated Press

With spring training less than two weeks away, the Texas Rangers and New York Yankees moved to bolster their pitching depth Friday.

Texas agreed to an $800,000, one-year contract with right-hander Pedro Astacio, and New York gave a minor league deal to left-hander Buddy Groom.

Astacio, who can earn an additional $2.2 million in roster and performance bonuses, made just one start and four relief appearances last season for Boston in his comeback from June 2003 shoulder surgery while with the New York Mets. The 35-year-old right-hander gave up 10 runs and 13 hits in 8 2/3 innings, a 10.38 ERA.

“We obviously recognize the health issues Pedro has had. We watched his workouts, and feel pretty good about where he is physically,” general manager John Hart said. “He is a quality guy and a great competitor.”

In 13 major league seasons with Los Angeles, Colorado, Houston, the Mets and Boston, Astacio is 118-109 with a 4.61 ERA.

“I feel 100 percent, the way I used to be all the time before I had this surgery,” Astacio said. “It has taken me a long time to get it back.”

In addition, Texas claimed right-hander reliever Ryan Bukvich off waivers from San Diego. Bukvich, who played for the Spokane Indians in 2000, was 2-0 with a save in 44 appearances for Kansas City during the past three seasons. He was traded to the Padres in November as part of the Terrence Long deal.

The 39-year-old Groom was 4-1 with a 4.78 ERA in 60 games for Baltimore last year. He would get an $850,000, one-year contract if he is added to New York’s major league roster, which currently includes only one proven left-hander reliever, Mike Stanton.

“I just compare him to what we have,” Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said. “Is he better than some of our insurance? Yes, he is.”

The Chicago Cubs wrapped up a busy week avoiding arbitration, agreeing to an $8.95 million, one-year deal with third baseman Aramis Ramirez and a $3.76 million, one-year contract with right-hander Carlos Zambrano.

Chicago is counting on Ramirez to help fill the power vacuum left by Sammy Sosa, who was traded to the Baltimore Orioles on Wednesday. Sosa and Moises Alou, who became a free agent and signed with San Francisco, combined for 74 homers and 186 RBIs last season.

Ramirez had a breakout year in 2004, hitting a team-best .318 with a career-high 36 homers and 103 RBIs. He only struck out 62 times – fewest of Chicago’s four 30-homer players – and had a slugging percentage of .578. His 36 homers set a Cubs record for a third baseman, and he was only the third to reach 100 RBIs.

Zambrano, 23, pitched a two-hit shutout against Colorado on May 7, facing only two batters over the minimum and throwing 97 pitches. He also led the National League in hit batters (20) and tied for ninth with 81 walks.

Zambrano is 34-29 with a 3.25 ERA in three full seasons with the Cubs.

Infielder Dave Hansen also found a team with the Cubs, agreeing to a minor league contract.

Hansen, who split last season between Seattle and San Diego, is a career .264 hitter. Hansen would get a $500,000, one-year contract if he is added to the major league roster.

Four other players in salary arbitration agreed to one-year contracts, leaving 17 players scheduled for hearings, which run through Feb. 18. Agreeing to deals were Toronto infielder Shea Hillenbrand ($3.87 million), Colorado right-hander Shawn Chacon ($2.35 million), Oakland outfielder Eric Byrnes ($2.2 million) and Milwaukee infielder Junior Spivey ($2,125,000).

Spivey, who missed the second half of last season because of a shoulder injury, took a rare cut for a player in arbitration. He made $2,367,500 last year, but his new deal includes $475,000 in performance bonuses.

Infielder Jeff Cirillo, who played two seasons with Seattle, agreed to a minor league contract with Milwaukee. Cirillo, 35, played for Milwaukee from 1994-99. If he is added to the major league roster, he would get a $316,000, one-year contract. Cirillo is owed $6.9 million in 2005 under a deal he agreed to with Colorado in July 2000.