[riverside sluggers]

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Twins agreed to terms with RHP Livan Hernandez on a one-year, $5 million contract.
The deal also contains incentives that could push Hernandez's total salary to $7 million. Hernandez will turn 33 years old during the first week of camp and he's only survived this long thanks to his craftiness, but he's a proven innings eater and the Twins had money to burn after parting with Johan Santana. He becomes the only projected Twins starter over the age of 26. He gave up 34 home runs in Arizona last year, the second-highest total in the NL, but playing at the Metrodome should help him keep that number in check even if facing AL lineups figures to make him less effective overall. He's not an attractive fantasy option and may struggle to keep his ERA under 5.00

Rangers signed outfielder Kevin Mench to a minor league contract and invited him to spring training.
Mench had back-to-back 25-homer seasons for the Rangers in 2004 and 2005, but has hit just .268/.310/.428 since then and spent last year in Milwaukee. As part of the contract Mench has agreed to report to Triple-A if he doesn't earn a spot on the Opening Day roster, but he can become a free agent if he's not in the majors by June 1. He may be headed for Oklahoma to begin the season, because competition for the Rangers' bench jobs include already included David Murphy, Nelson Cruz and Jason Botts.

Mets agreed to terms with first baseman Olmedo Saenz on a minor league contract and invited him to spring training.
Saenz was once a fantastic platoon starter capable of handling third base defensively, but he's now limited to first base and hit just .191 last season with the Dodgers. New York has no shortage of bench options, so the 37-year-old Saenz will face an uphill battle to crack the Opening Day roster.

Mariners agreed to terms with outfielder Greg Norton on a minor league contract and invited him to spring training.
Norton struggled after returning from knee surgery last season and had his $1 million option for 2008 declined by the Rays back in November. A switch-hitter with some pop, he could offer versatility off what looks to be a weak Mariners bench if healthy.

Phillies agreed to terms with RHP Kris Benson on a minor league contract and invited him to spring training.
The two sides have reportedly been working on a deal for at least a week, but Benson may not be ready for Opening Day after missing all of last season following surgery to repair a torn labrum. Director of professional scouting Chuck LaMarr said that Benson is at "60-70 percent" after watching