Vaughn left Boston to become an Angel

Vaughn 34, did not play last season following surgery to repair a ruptured biceps tendon in his left arm last February.

After leaving Boston for Anaheim, he hit .281 with 33 home runs and 108 RBIs in 1999. He batted .272 with 36 homers and 117 RBIs in 2000.

Houston have added two pitchers to their roster, agreeing a $1m, one-year contract with TJ Mathews and a minor league deal with CJ Nitkowski worth $750,000 if he makes the team.

The New York Yankees have agreed a $650,000 one-year contract with back-up catcher Alberto Castillo.

The have also signed a minor league deal with outfielder FP Santangelo worth up to $350,000 if he makes the team.

Montreal have inked a $300,000 12-month deal with right-fielder Masato Yoshii.

Meanwhile, Major League Baseball commissioner Bud Selig has finally given clubs permission to release schedules and sell individual game tickets for next season.

Some pundits see this as a sign that his plans to eliminate two of MLB's struggling franchises are in doubt as far as 2002 goes.

Robert DuPuy, baseball's chief legal officer, notified teams they could release tentative schedules, but said Selig will press forward with contraction.

"All tickets are being sold subject to change," DuPuy warned.