Kris Benson Still Kicking Around

Kris Benson, the less attractive member of the Benson family. (Linda Kaye - AP File Photo)

Fittingly, this story comes out of Surprise, Ariz.

According to T.R. Sullivan of mlb.com, Kris Benson will sign a minor league deal with the Texas Rangers and appear at the team's spring training.

Neither Benson nor his wife Anna has been seen since 2006 -- the right-hander's last season in Baltimore. A torn rotator cuff effectively ended his tenure with the Orioles as Benson sat out the entire 2007 season and spent last year in the minor leagues.

Benson, who was traded to the Orioles by the New York Mets in exchange for starting pitcher John Maine and heart attack-inducing reliever Jorge Julio, posted an 11-12 record with a 4.82 ERA and provided veteran leadership (and a circle change up) to Erik Bedard and the pitching staff in '06.