The BOSTON RED SOX (AAA: Pawtucket Red Sox) have re-signed minor league free agent outfielder-turned-pitcher MARCUS MCBETH to a new contract this winter. McBeth, 28, a former Oakland A’s fourth round draft choice from the University of South Carolina, spent his first three seasons in the Oakland organization as an outfielder. McBeth has adapted well and made 23 appearances in 2007 out of the bullpen for the Cincinnati Reds (3-2 w-l, 0 sv, 5.95 ERA). This past year, McBeth toiled for two playoff-bound teams in the International Leauge, initially with the AAA Louisville Bats (24 ga, 0 st, 1-1 w-l, 2 sv, 6.20 ERA, 24.2 ip, 23 h, 15 bb, 20 so). After being claimed by the Boston Red Sox off waivers on August 13, McBeth closed out the year with the AAA Pawtucket Red Sox (4 ga, 0 st, 1-0 w-l, 0 sv, 2.57 ERA, 7.0 ip, 3 h, 1 bb, 11 so).

The Red Sox will also bring back veteran minor league shortstop GIL VELAZQUEZ for another season. Velazquez is a former 14th round pick of the New York Mets and spent his first seven seasons in their organization. The 29-year-old native of Los Angeles has put in parts of seven summers in the International League (277 ga, 12 HR 85 RBI, .245 avg) including his time with the AAA Norfolk Tides and AAA Rochester Red Wings. Last season was a career year with the AAA Pawtucket Red Sox (101 ga, 350-91 ab/h, 22 bb, 73 so, 17 2B, 4 3B, 10 HR, 46 RBI, .260 avg) which earned Velazquez his first promotion to The Show with the Boston Red Sox (3 ga, 8-1 ab/h, 1 RBI, .125 avg).

The BALTIMORE ORIOLES (AAA: Norfolk Tides) have brought in former Major League outfielder JOLBERT CABRERA on a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training. Cabrera, a 36-year-old of 609 M.L. games (18 HR 157 RBI, .257 avg), was last a regular with the Seattle Mariners (113 ga, 6 HR 37 RBI, .270 avg) in 2004 before spending two productive seasons in Japan’s Pacific League with the Fukuoka Softbanks Hawks (221 ga, 16 HR 108 RBI, .281 avg). Cabrera divided 2007 in the Pacific Coast League with the AAA Memphis Redbirds (45 ga, 2 HR 8 RBI, .231 avg) and the AAA Colorado Springs Sky Sox (19 ga, 2 HR 13 RBI, .329 avg).

Cabrera, a native of Colombia, had a mini-renaissance in the International League with the AAA Louisville Bats (57 ga, 215-62 ab/h, 13 bb, 39 so, 16 2B, 5 3B, 4 HR, 30 RBI, .288 avg) last season. He would earn himself a permanent promotion to the Cincinnati Reds (48 ga, 115-29 ab/h, 8 bb, 29 so, 6 2B, 1 3B, 3 HR, 12 RBI, .252 avg) on June 10.

The Orioles have also given a new contract to minor league veteran pitcher ANDY MITCHELL. Mitchell, 30, has been with the O’s since signing as an undrafted free agent out of Georgia Tech in 2001 and does have four years experience in the International League (168 ga, 34 st, 29-16 w-l, 3.97 ERA). Last season, his first full campaign as a starter, Mitchell was one of the leaders in the I.L. for victories with the AAA Norfolk Tides (32 ga, 21 st, 12-8 w-l, 4.29 ERA, 138.1 ip, 136 h, 58 bb, 71 so).

The Orioles also have a new catcher in free agent signee catcher ROBBY HAMMOCK from the Arizona Diamondbacks. Hammock, 31, has played 180 big league games for the D-Backs (12 HR 48 RBI, .255 avg) spread over the last five summers. The former University of Gerorgia product played 18 games for Arizona (42-8 ab/h, 5 bb, 9 so, 1 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 2 RBI, .190 avg) as well as 62 times for the AAA Tucson Sidewinders (217-52 ab/h, 18 bb, 47 so, 6 2B, 2 3B, 5 HR, 27 RBI, .240 avg) in the Pacific Coast League in 2008.

The CHICAGO WHITE SOX (AAA: Charlotte Knights) have re-signed veteran pitcher FRANKLYN GERMAN to a new deal and invited him to spring training. The 29-year-old Dominican Republican has 155 games (0 st, 9-7 w-l, 7 sv, 4.25 ERA) with the Detroit Tigers, Florida Marlins and, most recently, the Texas Rangers to his name. German had 17 appearances with the Rangers (0 st, 1-3 w-l, 0 sv, 2.08 ERA, 21.2 ip, 18 h, 13 bb, 15 so) in 2008 but declined an assignment to the AAA Oklahoma City RedHawks of the P.C.L. and became a free agent.

German closed out last season with the AAA Charlotte Knights (5 ga, 0 st, 1-1 w-l, 0 sv, 4.26 ERA, 6.1 ip, 6 h, 6 bb, 9 so) in the International League. The White Sox had acquired German, who was pitching for the I.L.’s AAA Indianapolis Indians (24 ga, 0 st, 1-1 w-l, 0 sv, 3.58 ERA, 27.2 ip, 24 h, 17 bb, 22 so) in a trade with the Pittsburgh Pirates on August 10.

Lastly, the DETROIT TIGERS (AAA: Toledo Mud Hens) have re-inked their International League star, TIMO PEREZ. The 31-year-old outfielder is a veteran of 603 Major League ballgames (26 HR 185 RBI, .269 avg) with the New York Mets, Chicago White Sox, St.Louis Cardinals, and in addition to the Tigers. Last season was Perez’s first as a professional in North America that he did not appear in The Show. He originally signed with the Mets in 2000 after four years in Japan’s Central League with the Hiroshima Toyo Carp (227 ga, 8 HR 59 RBI, .271 avg).

Perez, a product of the Dominican Republic, was one of the top offensive weapons in the International League last season for the AAA Toledo Mud Hens (112 ga, 427-129 ab/h, 30 2B, 2 3B, 13 HR, 63 RBI, .302 avg, 19-25 sb).