Rangers sign Mark Prior to minor league deal

The Texas Rangers signed former Chicago Cubs ace Mark Prior to a minor league contract Friday.

Prior, who had pitched in relief for the Orange County Flyers of the independent Golden Baseball League, will be assigned to triple-A Oklahoma City, Flyers Manager Paul Abbott said. Prior is not expected to pitch for the Rangers this season, the team’s website said.

Prior, who will turn 30 on Tuesday, pitched 11 innings in nine appearances for the Flyers, striking out 22 of the 44 batters he faced while not giving up an earned run. He issued only five walks.

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Washington Nationals outfielder Nyjer Morgan was suspended for eight games, one of nine punishments handed out by Major League Baseball following a brawl between the Nationals and Florida Marlins.

MLB suspended Morgan and fined him an undisclosed amount for three incidents over the last week. Friday’s penalty is in addition to a seven-game suspension he received Aug. 25 that is under appeal.

Left-hander Mike Hampton is back in the majors after his contract was selected by the Arizona Diamondbacks.

A two-time All-Star, Hampton had shoulder surgery last September, the third major operation of his career, and had been building strength in hopes of returning to the majors at 37.

He signed with Arizona on Aug. 21 and pitched in four games at triple-A Reno, going 1-0 with a 2.70 earned-run average as a reliever.