Twins sign troubled Ponson

Originally Posted by Yahoo Sports

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Sidney Ponson and the Minnesota Twins agreed Wednesday to a minor league contract, a deal that could be worth as much as $3 million.

Ponson would get a $1 million, one-year contract if added to the 40-man roster and would have the chance to earn $2 million more in performance bonuses.

Minnesota has only three set starting pitchers heading into spring training: AL Cy Young Award winner Johan Santana, Carlos Silva and Boof Bonser.

Ponson won 17 games in 2003 with Baltimore and San Francisco, but his career has been set back by alcohol and weight problems.

He was the opening-day starter for the Orioles in 2004 but his contract was terminated by his original organization in September 2005, a week after his second arrest that year for drunken driving.

Ponson went to an alcohol rehabilitation facility and regularly saw a psychiatrist. He was 4-4 with a 5.24 ERA in 13 starts and one relief appearance for the Cardinals last year, then was cut July 7. He signed with the Yankees a week later but went 0-1 with a 10.47 ERA in three starts and two relief appearances was cut Aug. 19.

A 30-year-old right-hander, Ponson is 80-96 with a 4.89 ERA in 238 career starts and 14 relief appearances.

Minnesota also agreed to a minor league contract with right-hander Brad Voyles, who finished last season with the St. Louis organization. Voyles appeared in parts of three seasons with the Kansas City Royals, from 2001-03