Nats respond to losing out on Teixeira bid with five minor league signings

WASHINGTON -- On the day they lost out on top target Mark Teixeira, the Washington Nationals announced they signed five players to minor league contracts.

Veteran outfielder Corey Patterson, right-hander Jorge Sosa, left-hander Gustavo Chacin, infielder Jose Castillo and catcher Gustavo Molina signed with Washington on Tuesday.

If Patterson is added to the 40-man roster, he will get an $800,000, one-year deal, with $25,000 each for 400 and 450 plate appearances. If Sosa makes the 40-man roster, he gets a split deal, with salaries of $850,000 in the majors and $90,000 in the minors. If Chacin is added to the 40-man, he would get a $600,000, one-year contract.

After going a major league-worst 59-102 last season, the Nationals hoped to add Teixeira as the centerpiece of an effort to turn things around, but he reached a preliminary agreement with the New York Yankees on Tuesday.

"We are disappointed we weren't able to sign him," general manager Jim Bowden wrote in an e-mail to the Associated Press, "and will now turn our attention to several other opportunities to improve our major league club this offseason."

He wrote that in trying to land Teixeira, the Nationals "competed financially in terms of (money) and years at the highest level with Red Sox, Yankees and Angels."

A few hours later, the Nationals announced the five minor league signings.

Patterson hit .205 with 10 homers, 34 RBI and 14 steals for the Reds in 2008. He has hit .253 with 104 homers, 363 RBI and 182 stolen bases over nine seasons with three clubs.

Sosa went 4-1 with a 7.06 ERA in 20 relief appearances for the Mets last season, and is 40-49 with a 4.67 ERA over seven big league seasons as a starter and reliever.

Chacin spent 2008 in the minors, going 1-7 with a 7.88 ERA at Class-A Dunedin in Toronto's system. He is 25-15 with a 4.18 ERA in the majors, but his 2007 season ended with a left shoulder injury.

Castillo hit a combined .246 with six homers and 27 RBI for the Giants and Astros last season. He's a .254 career hitter with 39 homers and 218 RBI in the majors.

Molina played in only two major league games last season with the Mets and is a .118 career hitter in 34 at-bats.