Mets agree to Minors contracts with Rice, Torres

NEW YORK -- The Mets have agreed to Minor League contracts with left-hander Scott Rice and right-hander Carlos Torres and invited both to Spring Training, the team announced on Tuesday. The team also signed outfielder Jamie Hoffman, according to a tweet from Paul DePodesta, vice president of amateur scouting.

Rice, 31, spent last season in the Dodgers organization, posting a 4.40 ERA and nine saves in 54 games for Triple-A Albuquerque. A first-round Draft pick of the Orioles, he has spent the past 14 seasons in the Minors and independent leagues without cracking the Majors.

Torres, 30, split last season between the Majors and Minors, posting a 5.26 ERA in 31 relief appearances for the Rockies. He also went 5-4 with a 3.98 ERA in 13 starts and one relief appearance for Triple-A Colorado Springs. He made his Major League debut with the White Sox in 2009 and is 6-6 with a 5.97 ERA in 44 career big league games, including six starts.

The two will battle a growing group of contenders for spots in the Opening Day bullpen.

Hoffman, 28, hit .254 with 11 homers and 44 RBIs in 366 at-bats with Triple-A Norfolk last season. He appeared in two games for the Dodgers in 2011 and in 14 games in 2009, spending most of his time from 2009-11 at Triple-A Albuquerque.