Ramon Ortiz signs one year deal with Twins...

Originally Posted by ESPN

MINNEAPOLIS -- Pitcher Ramon Ortiz and the Minnesota Twins formally agreed Monday on a $3.1 million, one-year contract.

Ortiz went 11-16 with a 5.57 ERA in 33 starts last year for the Washington Nationals. The 33-year-old righty is 79-76 lifetime with a 4.85 ERA for the Angels, Cincinnati and Washington.

The Twins hope Ortiz can boost a rotation that is headed by AL Cy Young Award winner Johan Santana and includes Carlos Silva and Boof Bonser. With Francisco Liriano out for the year after major elbow surgery and Brad Radke now retired, Sidney Ponson and several prospects -- Scott Baker, Matt Garza and Glen Perkins, among them -- are in the mix.

Last season, Ortiz became the anchor of Washington's injury-depleted rotation down the stretch. He took a no-hit bid into the ninth inning against the St. Louis Cardinals on Sept. 4.

Ortiz had his best year in 2002, when he went 15-9 with a 3.77 ERA and a career-high 162 strikeouts over 217 1/3 innings for the World Series champion Anaheim Angels.

Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press