Parque signs minor league contract

Former Crescenta Valley High standout pitcher Jim Parque signed a

minor league contract with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays on Monday.

Terms were not disclosed, but Parque was a free agent after the

Chicago White Sox failed to offer the 27-year-old a contract by the

Dec. 20 deadline.

Parque, a left-hander, has been bothered by injuries to his

throwing shoulder and had made just nine starts the past two seasons,

after going a career-best 13-6 for the White Sox in 2000.

Parque, who made his debut for Chicago in 1998, went 0-3 in 2001

and was 1-4 with a 9.95 earned-run average in just eight games last

season.

Hamlet Nalbandyan