The Orioles filled their hole at shortstop, agreeing yesterday to a $5 million, two-year contract with free agent Cesar Izturis.

The 28-year-old Izturis, a former Pirates infielder, batted .263 in 135 games with the Cardinals last season. He ranked third in the NL with a .980 fielding percentage.

"This is a good opportunity to play every day," Izturis said. "I think they needed a defensive shortstop. I just want to help the team win; it will be fun."

Izturis won the 2004 Gold Glove for the Los Angeles Dodgers and was an NL All-Star the following year.

He fills the void at shortstop left by the trade in 2007 that sent Miguel Tejada to the Houston Astros. The Orioles employed six players at the position this year, including Freddie Bynum, Juan Castro and Alex Cintron.

Outfielder Raul Ibanez and the Phillies have finalized a $31.5 million, three-year contract. The deal, agreed to on Friday, was subject to the physical and was announced yesterday. Ibanez will take over in left from Pat Burrell, who became a free agent. The 36-year-old Ibanez hit .293 last season with 43 doubles, 23 home runs and 110 RBIs with the Mariners. Ibanez adds yet another left-handed bat to the Phillies lineup behind Ryan Howard and Chase Utley.

• Joey Gathright and the Cubs agreed to an $800,000, one-year contract, three days after the outfielder became a free agent when he wasn't offered a deal for 2009. Primarily a center fielder, Gathright has played five seasons in the majors with Tampa Bay and Kansas City, batting .263 in 399 games.

• Pitcher Chris Capuano stayed with the Brewers, agreeing to a minor league contract after the team let him go last week. The left-hander became a free agent when Milwaukee failed to offer a contract by Friday's deadline. That got him off the 40-man roster. Capuano missed last season after injuring his pitching elbow in an exhibition game in March.

• Left-hander John Bale and the Royals agreed to a one-year contract. Bale was 0-3 with a 4.39 ERA in 2008, appearing in just 13 games while struggling with injuries -- one self-inflicted.

Lance Armstrong's comeback race will be televised in the United States. Versus, which airs the Tour de France, said it has added U.S. rights for the Tour Down Under in Australia in January. Armstrong plans to make that his first event after a three-year retirement. Versus will broadcast a 30-minute highlight show each of the first five days of the race. The final stage Jan. 24 will be streamed live on Versus' Web site, and a one-hour highlight show will air the following day.

Olympic gold medalist Kelly Clark is rejoining the U.S. Snowboarding halfpipe team. Clark, who won the halfpipe gold as an 18 year old in the Salt Lake City Games in 2002, was a member of the national team from 2000-03. She has competed as an independent the past five years. The U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association said in a release that Clark was back on the national roster.