White Sox invite eight to spring training

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CHICAGO, Jan. 21 (UPI) -- The Chicago White Sox have signed eight players to minor league deals, including veteran righthander Robert Person and outfielder Marvin Benard.

Person, 34, is 51-42 with a 4.64 ERA in 206 major league appearances. He has been hampered by injuries throughout his career, although he went 15-7 in 33 starts for Philadelphia in 2001.

Benard, 34, spent his first nine big league seasons with San Francisco, batting .271 with 54 home runs and 260 RBI. He ranks 11th among active players with 52 pinch hits and still can provide speed in the outfield.

Also signed were righthanders Mike Jackson and Jose Santiago, lefthander Vic Darensbourg, and infielders Bobby Smith, Kelly Dransfeldt, and Mike Bell. All eight were invited to spring training.

Jackson, 39, was out of baseball last season after making 58 relief appearances with Minnesota in 2002. He is 60-67 with 142 saves and a 3.35 ERA in 960 games over 17 major league seasons.