After watching several rounds of first basemen musical chairs play out over the past few weeks through free agency and trades ...

Free-agent designated hitter/first baseman Mike Ford signed a minor-league deal with the Minnesota Twins on Thursday that includes an invitation to major-league spring training, according to a source.

The Twins don't include Ford on their 26-man active roster ahead of Thursday's season opener versus the Cardinals.

Eleven days after Cincinnati Reds first baseman Christian Encarnacion-Strand suffered a fracture in his right wrist, he discovered the full extent of the injury and landed on the 10-day injured list.

Minnesota also will take a look at first baseman Mike Ford, among 16 players invited to spring training on minor league contracts. Ford appeared in 17 games with the Reds last season, his sixth ...