Orioles sign eight players to minor league contracts

The Orioles announced the signings of eight players to minor league contracts with invitations to spring training.

Most of the agreements already have been reported, including the deal with Korean first baseman Ji-Man Choi, who spent the last five years in the Mariners organization.

Also signed were right-handers Pedro Beato and Todd Redmond, left-handers Cesar Cabral and Ashur Tolliver, infielders Steve Tolleson and Ozzie Martinez, and catcher Audry Perez.

Choi is the only player with no previous ties to the organization. Tolleson returns after appearing in 29 games with the Orioles in 2012. Beato, Cabral, Tolliver, Martinez and Perez spent 2015 at Double-A Bowie or Triple-A Norfolk.

Redmond, 30, spent a month in spring training with the Orioles in 2013 before the Blue Jays claimed him off waivers. He appeared in seven games for Toronto this year and registered a 7.31 ERA and 1.500 WHIP in 16 innings. He also went 3-7 with a 4.00 ERA and 1.411 WHIP in 23 games (10 starts) at Triple-A Buffalo.

Redmond is 5-8 with a 4.25 ERA in 67 major league games over parts of four seasons.

Tolleson, 32, spent the past two seasons in the Blue Jays organization. He hit .253/.308/.371 in 109 games in 2014 and .268/.333/.439 in 19 games this year.

Tolleson, who will compete with Ryan Flaherty and Paul Janish for a utility job, has batted .294/.348/.469 in 115 major league games against left-handed pitching.

Choi, 24, has hit .302/.404/.481 with a .886 OPS in 335 career games over five minor league seasons. He broke his right fibula in March and was limited to 18 games at Triple-A Tacoma.

"Choi is an accomplished hitter with high on-base capabilities," executive vice president Dan Duquette wrote in a text message.

Beato, 29, went 5-5 with a 2.65 ERA in 63 games at Norfolk. The Orioles chose him with the 32nd overall pick in the 2006 draft before he made stops in the Mets, Red Sox and Braves organizations.

Cabral, 26, worked one inning over two appearances with the Orioles this year before they designated him for assignment. He went 2-1 with a 4.95 ERA in 45 appearances at Norfolk and threw four scoreless and hitless innings at Bowie.

The 27-year-old Tolliver was a fifth-round pick in 2009. He went 1-2 with a 2.91 ERA in 39 games (two starts) with Bowie.

Martinez, 27, impressed the Orioles with his plus defense at shortstop while appearing in 122 games at Bowie. He batted .252/.310/.303 in 477 plate appearances during his first season in the organization.

The Orioles purchased Perez's contract from the Rockies on March 31. Also praised for his defense, Perez batted .243/.279/.303 in 78 games. He turns 27 next month.

Choi and Tolliver are the only players without major league experience.