The 39-year-old outfielder battled an arthritic right knee last season while with San Diego and was limited to 61 games. He went on the disabled list in June with the injury and never returned to action, having batted a career-low .191 with just 23 RBI to that point.

A two-time All-Star while a member of the Pirates, Giles appeared in 1,847 games over 15 seasons of major-league service with Cleveland, Pittsburgh and San Diego.

Tracking some of Canada's top players for the MLB 2010 season: HITTERS JUSTIN MORNEAU, MINNESOTA TWINS 2009: .274 AVG, 30 HR, 100 RBI, 85 R, .878 OPS 2010 Outlook: The 2006 AL MVP suffered a stress fracture in his back late in the '09 season that forced the first baseman to miss the team's final 21 games. Despite playing in his fewest games since 2004, the three-time All-Star topped 30-100 for the third time in four years. With a healthy Twins lineup, featuring newly-acquired Orlando Hudson and MLB batting champ Joe Mauer, Morneau is poised for another MVP-type season.

Stat fact: Morneau has the fourth-highest RBI total in baseball since 2006.

Reyes underwent additional blood tests this week after being diagnosed with an overactive thyroid.

The Mets confirmed Thursday that Reyes' thyroid hormone blood levels are elevated.

The new deal will take Helton through the 2013 season. He has also agreed to defer a portion of his contract over a 10-year period beginning in 2014.

"This is a great commitment for both the organization and me," Helton said in a statement from the team.

The 39-year-old Guardado, who agreed to a minor league contract with the Nationals on December 26, had a 1-2 record with a 4.46 earned run average in 48 appearances last season for Texas.

A two-time All-Star selection, Guardado has 187 career saves and ranks fourth among active pitchers with 908 appearances with Minnesota, Seattle, Cincinnati and the Rangers.

A 15-year-veteran who retired during the 2009 season, Clark was a club player representative for the Red Sox and Diamondbacks and spent his last several seasons as an associate player representative.

"It is an honor to welcome Tony to the Association's staff," said MLBPA executive director Michael Weiner. "Tony is as passionate about this union as any player I've known and is highly respected throughout the game. He will be a tremendous asset to the players' cause." Clark, 37, was drafted by the Tigers in 1990 and made his big league debut late in the 1995 season. He finished third in voting for rookie of the year in 1996 and was an All-Star selection in 2001. Over 1,559 career games, he batted .262 with 251 home runs and 824 RBI.

According to Boston sports talk station WEEI, Garciaparra will sign a one-day minor league deal with the Sox, then will reportedly become a baseball analyst for ESPN.

A six-time All-Star, Garciaparra was the AL's Rookie of the Year in 1997 with Boston.

Lucie, FL (Sports Network) - The New York Mets confirmed the test results that stated shortstop Jose Reyes has an overactive thyroid.

The club mentioned that Reyes will remain in New York to undergo additional blood testing, the results of which aren't expected until Thursday.

"He was beloved by generations of Dodger fans and remains one of the most talented players ever to wear the Dodger uniform," said Dodgers owner Frank McCourt. "Having spent time with him over the past six years, I know how proud he was to have been a Dodger.

He will surely be missed and our sincere thoughts are with his children during this difficult time." Davis was signed by the Dodgers out of high school in 1958 and was in the majors two years later. He spent 14 seasons with the club from 1960-73 and is the team's all-time leader with 2,091 hits, 585 extra-base hits, 7,495 at- bats, 1,004 runs, 110 triples, and 3,094 total bases. He won two championships with the club in 1963 and 65.

Ramirez was designated for assignment in late February when the Yankees signed Chan Ho Park to a one-year contract.

In 20 relief appearances with the Yankees last season, Ramirez had no record with a 5.73 earned run average.

Outside of someone named Joe Mauer, Nathan is probably the most irreplaceable player on the Minnesota roster. Quite frankly, you can make the argument that Nathan is the more vital piece to the Twins' puzzle than the reigning American League Most Valuable Player.

The bad news started for the Twins over the weekend, when Nathan experienced tightness in his elbow after facing just one batter in an exhibition game against the Boston Red Sox.

Jones is entering his third season with Baltimore after being acquired from Seattle in the Erik Bedard trade. He was an All-Star last season and finished the campaign with career bests of 19 homers, 70 runs batted in and a .277 batting average.

Wieters, considered Baltimore's top prospect entering the 2009 season, made his big league debut last May and finished his rookie season with a .288 average, nine homers and 43 runs batted in over 96 games.

TheMinneapolis Star-Tribune said tests revealed damage to the ulnar collateral ligament.

According to the report, Nathan will rest the elbow for two weeks to allow swelling in the area to subside. He will then try to strengthen the elbow before trying to pitch.

Agreeing to terms were pitchers Daniel Bard, Michael Bowden, Clay Buchholz, Felix Doubront, Ramon A. Ramirez and Dustin Richardson; catchers Dusty Brown and Mark Wagner; infielders Aaron Bates, Tug Hulett and Jed Lowrie; and outfielders Jacoby Ellsbury and Josh Reddick.

Bard pitched 49 games out of the bullpen last season and went 2-2 with a 3.65 earned run average.

Bailey made 68 appearances for Oakland last season, posting a 6-3 record with 26 saves and a 1.84 earned run average to earn American League Rookie of the Year honors.

The A's also worked out deals for most of last year's starting rotation Monday, agreeing to terms with righty Trevor Cahill and a trio of left-handers in Brett Anderson, Dallas Braden and Gio Gonzalez.

Nathan felt tightness in the elbow on Saturday against Boston after facing one batter and exited the game. The Twins have not given a timetable for his return.

The 35-year-old Nathan is coming off a franchise-record 47-save season in 2009.

The injury will sideline Martin for the remainder of Spring Training and Opening Day.

Dodgers manager Joe Torre said that rookie A.J. Ellis will get the majority of work with Martin out. Brad Ausmus, 40, is the backup catcher.

Gordon was hurt when sliding into second base on an attempted steal in the second inning of Saturday's spring training game against Texas.

Gordon underwent hip surgery last April and played in only 49 games. He finished the 2009 season with six home runs and 22 RBI while batting .232.

Blackburn started 33 games last season for the AL Central champs, posting an 11-11 record with a 4.03 earned run average over a career-high 205 2/3 innings.

He is 22-24 with a 4.14 ERA in 72 career games (66 starts) -- all with the Twins.

An MRI exam Friday revealed the tear, which was deemed significant, after Guzman complained of discomfort. He hadn't thrown off a mound this Spring as he was still recovering from arthroscopic knee surgery. It has yet to be determined if surgery will be necessary to correct this latest ailment.

Guzman appeared in a career-high 55 games last season as a vital late-inning cog in the Cubs' bullpen. The right-hander was 3-3 and posted a 2.95 earned run average over 61 innings with 47 strikeouts against 23 walks. He was shut down in late September with soreness in the area of his right armpit.

The tests, though, are not expected to take place until Monday and results take 48 hours, so he likely will be held out of baseball activities until late next week.

Last season, Reyes had his season cut short in May due to a hamstring injury. He had been scratched from Thursday's lineup because team doctors were concerned about something undisclosed that showed up in blood tests from his yearly physical.

Lucie, FL (Sports Network) - The New York Mets on Thursday signed right-hander Kiko Calero to a minor league contract with an invite to spring training.

The 35-year-old Calero posted a 2-2 record with a career-low 1.95 earned run average in 67 relief appearances for Florida last season. He struck out 69 batters in 60 innings of work.

Among the signings were shortstop Elvis Andrus, infielder Joaquin Arias, outfielder Nelson Cruz, first baseman Chris Davis, pitchers Matt Harrison, Eric Hurley, Warner Madrigal, Guillermo Moscoso, Darren O'Day, Alexi Ogando and Pedro Strop and catchers Max Ramirez, Jarrod Saltalamacchia and Taylor Teagarden.

Andrus played his rookie campaign in 2009 and batted .267 with six homers and 40 RBI in 145 games.

Louis, MO (Sports Network) - St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Colby Rasmus and infielder Brendan Ryan were among 24 players signed to one-year contracts by the team on Thursday.

As a rookie in 2009, Rasmus appeared in 147 games and batted .251 with 16 homers and 52 RBI.

Butler enjoyed a breakout campaign in 2009, batting .301 with 21 homers, 93 runs batted in and 51 doubles for Kansas City. In three seasons with the club, he has a .291 batting average with 40 homers, 200 RBI and 96 doubles.

Callaspo has spent the past two seasons with the Royals and batted .300 with 11 homers and 73 RBI in a career-best 155 games. In 308 contests in four seasons with Kansas City and Arizona, the 26-year-old has a .286 average with 58 doubles.