AROUND THE HORN Baseball news and notes

Pirates: Right-hander Pat Mahomes agreed Monday to a minor league contract and was invited to spring training. If Mahomes is added to the major league roster, he would get a $400,000, one-year contract and the chance to earn $100,000 in performance bonuses. Mahomes, 32, has appeared in 299 major league games, including 62 starts, and is 42-38 with a 5.29 ERA. He spent most of last season with the Chicago Cubs' Triple-A farm team, going 4-5 with 14 saves and a 3.48 ERA in 44 games. In 16 games with the Cubs last season, Mahomes was 1-1 with a 3.86 ERA. Mahomes would earn bonuses of $10,000 each for 30, 35, 40, 45 or 50 games, $15,000 each for 55 and 60 games and $20,000 for 65 games. Mahomes, an eighth-round pick by Minnesota in the 1988 amateur draft, also has played with the Twins and Boston Red Sox. He is 13-25 with a 6.56 ERA as a starter and 29-13 with five saves and a 4.58 ERA in relief. The Pirates start workouts in Bradenton, Fla., on Feb. 15.
Expos: The mayors of Portland, Ore., and the District of Columbia, and the Virginia attorney general lead delegations this week trying to convince baseball officials Montreal franchise should move to their areas. Portland Mayor Vera Katz was to lead off this morning with District of Columbia Mayor Anthony A. Williams to appear later in the day. The Northern Virginia group and Virginia Attorney General Jerry Kilgore will speak to the committee Wednesday afternoon.
Trade: The Los Angeles Dodgers and Colorado Rockies traded minor leaguers Monday, with Los Angeles acquiring infielder/outfielder Jason Romano for outfielder Luke Allen. Romano played for the Texas Rangers and Rockies last season, batting .253 in 91 at-bats. He played second base, third base, shortstop, left field and center field. Allen, 24, hit .329 with 12 homers and 78 RBIs in 137 games at Triple-A Las Vegas last season. He played briefly for the Dodgers in September, getting one hit in seven at-bats.
Twins: Reliever Mike Fetters agreed Monday on a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training. Fetters, 38, was 3-3 with a 4.09 ERA in 65 games with Pittsburgh and Arizona last year.
White Sox: Brian Daubach was among seven players who agreed Monday to minor league contracts and were invited to spring training as non-roster players. Also agreeing to minor league deals were pitchers Gil Heredia, Esteban Loaiza and Brian Cooper; catchers Jamie Burke and Steven Morales; and outfielder Clifford Brumbaugh.
Rangers: Outfielder Ruben Sierra agreed Monday to a minor league contract, getting the chance for another comeback with his former team. Sierra was invited to spring training as a non-roster player. He is guaranteed $90,000, and if added to the major league roster would get a $600,000, one-year contract and the chance to earn $200,000 more in performance bonuses. If the former All-Star isn't added to the roster by the March 30 opener at Anaheim, he can request his release. Sierra started his career in Texas from 1986-92.
Mets: Pitcher Dan Wheeler signed a minor league contract. The 25-year-old right-hander was 9-6 with a 4.65 ERA in 25 starts and two relief appearances last year for Atlanta's Triple-A Richmond affiliate.
Orioles: Former left-hander Scott McGregor will become pitching coach for the Orioles' Class A Frederick affiliate this season.
Yankees: New York added Juan Acevedo to their pitching staff Monday, seeking depth as they look to replace Ramiro Mendoza. Acevedo, who agreed to a minor league contract, had a career-high 28 saves as the Detroit Tigers' closer last year. The 32-year-old right-hander went 1-5 with a 2.65 ERA.
Fame game moved: For the first time in its long history, the annual Hall of Fame exhibition baseball game will not take place during induction weekend, the Hall of Fame announced. The game had to be moved because of conflicts with the major league schedule. The popular game will be played June 16 at Cooperstown's Doubleday Field, matching Philadelphia against Tampa Bay.