Brendan Ryan agrees to minor league deal with Nats

WASHINGTON (AP) Infielder Brendan Ryan has agreed to a minor league contact with the Washington Nationals and will report to big league spring training.

Ryan was with the New York Yankees from September 2013 through last season and previously played for the Seattle Mariners and St. Louis Cardinals during his nine-year big league career. Ryan was traded by the Yankees to the Chicago Cubs in December, then was released by Chicago.

The 33-year-old is a career .234 hitter with 203 RBIs in 879 games. Ryan is a strong defender with considerable experience at second base, third base and shortstop.

Ryan, whose deal was announced Tuesday, will be competing for a backup job behind second baseman Daniel Murphy, signed as a free agent.