Crede finds new home with Twins

The Minnesota Twins finally made a big move.

After sitting idle for more than four months following a season in which they lost to the White Sox in a 1-game playoff for the AL Central title, the Twins agreed to terms with free-agent third baseman Joe Crede on a one-year deal on Saturday.

Provided Crede's back holds up, he will fill a major need for the Twins as a power-hitting third baseman who also has a great glove.

The 30-year-old Crede has had two major back surgeries in the last two seasons. He hit .248 with 17 homers and 55 RBI last season for the White Sox, but the all-star played sparingly in the second half because of recurring back trouble, which limited him to 47 games in 2007.

"We've been looking for a corner guy. You always look to upgrade, see if you can get an impact player," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. "I mean, we went into the spring looking for one, and this is the guy. This is the guy that we talked about way, way back. This guy, if he's healthy, can do a lot of damage."

Crede worked out for scouts, including representatives from the Twins, earlier this winter in hopes of showing teams that his injury was healed and he was ready to play.

"It's nice for him to play; obviously don't want to face him all the time," White Sox ace Mark Buehrle said. "I think it's going to be tough playing 80 games on turf. I don't how that's going to hold up on his back. Obviously we'll see. Hopefully he's going to be healthy all year. Hopefully he doesn't help them out too much."

Howry has closer's mentality: Even though Bob Howry is no longer a closer, he still thinks like one.

"Just because you are not getting the final three outs doesn't mean that you are not coming in at a crucial time," said Howry, one of the most successful setup men over the past four seasons.

"Who knows? Who's to say the guy coming in in the seventh and eighth innings is not going to face the 2-3-4 or 3-4-5 hitters in the opposing lineup? It is still a critical point in the game if you have a lead to hold onto."

San Francisco signed Howry, a former White Sox who was with the Cubs in 2008, to a one-year, $2.75 million contract to hold down the eighth inning this season, bringing his career full circle after the team selected him in the fifth round of the 1994 draft.

Rangers sign Benson: Right-hander Kris Benson, the first pick in the 1996 draft by the Pittsburgh Pirates, signed a minor-league contract with the Texas Rangers.

Benson reported to camp as a nonroster invitee. The Rangers, who are looking to add depth to their rotation, worked out Benson earlier in the week.

"I'm not really paying attention to the minor-league side of things," the 34-year-old Benson said. "My goal and mind-set is totally set on making this big-league team."

Benson last pitched in the majors in 2006. He missed the 2007 season after having surgery to repair a torn right rotator cuff. He was 1-4 with a 5.52 ERA last year in 11 starts for Lehigh Valley, the Philadelphia Phillies' Class AAA affiliate. The Phillies released him on Aug. 30.

172 percent rise: Nick Markakis and Ervin Santana received the steepest raises among the 111 players in salary arbitration, a group that overall earned a record increase of 172 percent, according a study by The Associated Press.

The rise broke the previous mark of 169 percent set in 1999 and was up sharply from last year's 120 percent hike, partly because the arbitration group started out with a lower average. The 111 players in this year's filing class rose to an average of $3.07 million from $1.13 million.

Last year, the 110 players in arbitration jumped to $3.04 million from $1.38 million. The record average of $3.26 million was set in 2004.

Etc.: The Pittsburgh Pirates picked up manager John Russell's contract option for 2010 despite going 67-95 in his first season.

- Scouring the globe for talented baseball players, the Cleveland Indians signed 16-year-old catcher Martin Cervenka of the Czech Republic to a non-drafted minor-league contract. Peter Gahan, who scouts Europe and Australia for the Indians, discovered the right-handed hitter while evaluating players at Major League Baseball's European Academy in Italy.