The Pirates today signed left-handed reliever Wil Ledezma to a minor league contract with an invitation to the major league portion of spring training.

Ledezma, 28, opened 2009 in Washington's bullpen but was designated for assignment April 20 -- 9.53 ERA in five appearances with the Nationals -- and did not make it back to the majors, signing with Toronto as a minor league free agent July 31. For the year, he had a 3.49 ERA in 29 appearances in the minors, with 40 strikeouts and 18 walks in 38 2/3 innings.

In 160 major league appearances, including 40 starts, Ledezma has a 5.17 ERA. In 124 minor league appearances, including 74 starts, he has a 3.60 ERA.

Ledezma is the first non-roster invitee of the offseason.

The Pirates also signed eight Latin American amateurs and assigned them to their Dominican Summer League team: shortstops Maximo Rivera and Ramses Pena; outfielder Luis Urena; right-handed pitchers Arquimedes Lorenzo, Cristopher DeLeon, Luis Alfonzo Valdez and Anuedy Merejo, and left-hander Darlin Alduey.

Check PBC Blog for details, updates.

Looking for more from the Post-Gazette? Join PG+, our members-only web site. You'll get exclusive sports content, opinion, financial information, discounts from retailers and restaurants, and more. Our introduction to PG+ gives you all the details.