DETROIT, Dec. 21 (UPI) -- ----------------------------------------------------
The Detroit Tigers on Friday signed free agent outfielder Jacob Cruz to a minor league contract andninvited him to spring training.
Cruz, 28, is a veteran of parts of seven seasons in the major leagues. He appeared in 28 games with the Cleveland Indians and 44 games with the Colorado Rockies last season, hitting a combined .216 with four homers and 16 RBI in 144 at-bats.
Playing in the Mexican Pacific League, Cruz is hitting .280 with eight homers and 26 RBI in 41 games with Mazatlan.
Cruz has a career .243 average with 10 home runs and 53 RBI in 168 games in the majors.
The Tigers also invited pitcher Kenny Baugh, the team's first-round pick in the 2001 draft, to spring training along with pitchers Jared Camp and Homero Rivera, infielders Omar Infante and Jarrod Patterson and outfielders Ryan Jackson and Rod Lindsey.
