Rangers sign Torrealba; Dodgers close with Uribe

The Rangers signed catcher Yorvit Torrealba to a two-year deal worth $6.25 million, according to a league source.

Torrealba, who batted .271 with seven home runs and 31 RBIs for the Padres in part-time duty last year, gives the Rangers a needed right-handed bat. He started 89 games in 2010, and the Padres' pitchers had a 3.14 ERA in those games.

"I'm real excited about it. I was looking for a team that can compete," he said Monday after agreeing to the deal with the AL champions.

Texas also agreed to a $1.2 million, one-year contract with right-hander Mark Lowe, the reliever acquired from Seattle with Cliff Lee in July.

Meanwhile, the Dodgers are getting close to a three-year deal with Juan Uribe that is believed to be for about $21 million. Uribe batted .248 with 24 home runs and 85 RBIs for the Giants last season while playing three different infield positions, primarily shortstop.

San Francisco offered Uribe salary arbitration last Tuesday, when general manager Brian Sabean said the sides were far off in their numbers. Sabean had hoped to bring back Uribe to keep much of his roster intact heading into 2011.