Padres sign pair

San Diego – Jaret Wright will try to resurrect his career in San Diego after agreeing to a one-year contract with the Padres on Tuesday.

San Diego also agreed to a two-year contract with free-agent infielder Dave Hansen.

Wright, 26, was let go by the Indians in October after spending the first half of the year on the disabled list with shoulder problems. He has undergone two operations on the shoulder since June 2000 and had surgery on his elbow in 2001.

In six starts for the Indians last season, Wright went 2-3 with a 15.71 ERA. He was tagged for 40 hits and 32 earned runs in just 181¼3 innings. Wright split the second half between Cleveland and Triple-A Buffalo.

Hansen spent the past 11 seasons with the Dodgers. He is a .267 career hitter with 29 home runs and 184 RBIs.

Astros sign pitcher

Houston – The Astros signed left-handed pitcher Jesus Sanchez to a minor league contract Tuesday and invited him to spring training. Sanchez, 28, was 0-0 with a 12.96 ERA in eight games in relief for the Chicago Cubs last season. Sanchez has a career major league record of 23-32 and a 5.20 ERA.

D’Rays to sell Cox

St. Petersburg, Fla. – The Tampa Bay Devil Rays reached agreement with the Yokohama Bay Stars on Tuesday to sell first baseman Steve Cox to the Japanese club.

The Devil Rays are first required to ask release waivers on Cox, who had expressed interest in playing in Japan.

Cox, 28, batted .254 with 16 home runs and 72 RBIs in 148 games this season for the Devil Rays.

Nakamura meets Mets

New York – Free-agent third baseman Norihiro Nakamura met Tuesday with New York Mets general manager Steve Phillips, who is seeking a replacement for Edgardo Alfonzo.

Nakamura hit .294 with 42 homers and 115 RBIs last season for Kintetsu of the Pacific League. In Japan, he has been courted by the Buffaloes, Yomiuri Giants and Hanshin Tigers.

Clemens not worried about contract talks

New York – Roger Clemens isn’t worried about his contract talks with the New York Yankees.

Clemens, a free agent, wants to return to his team of the last three years, and agents Randy and Alan Hendricks have been negotiating with the team.