Angels Sign Alicea, Ontiveros

The Angels signed veteran second baseman Luis Alicea and oft-injured pitcher Steve Ontiveros to minor league contracts Monday, and both will join the club for spring training workouts in Tempe, Ariz., in mid-February.

The team also was close Monday night to an agreement on a one-year contract for pitcher Allen Watson, who was acquired from the San Francisco Giants for first baseman J.T. Snow in November and is eligible for arbitration. In addition, infielder Robert Eenhoorn was designated for assignment to make room for Eddie Murray on the 40-man roster.

Alicea, 31, started 104 games for the St. Louis Cardinals last season, batting .258 with a career-high 26 doubles, five home runs, 42 runs batted in and 54 runs, but he led National League second basemen in errors with 24.

Alicea, who spent nine seasons in the Cardinal organization (1986-94) before being traded to the Boston Red Sox for 1995, can also play shortstop and third base and will likely compete with Craig Grebeck for the Angels’ utility infielder position.

Ontiveros, a 35-year-old who signed a free-agent contract with the Angels last winter, spent the 1996 season on the disabled list because of elbow problems and isn’t expected to be ready for the start of this season.