The Pirates have agreed to terms on minor league contracts with pitchers Brian Burres, Neal Cotts and Tyler Yates. All will be invited to spring training.

Burres, a 28-year-old left-hander, was 6-7 with a 4.76 ERA for the Blue Jays' Class AAA affiliate in Las Vegas, 0-2 with a 14.21 ERA in two starts for Toronto.

Cotts, a 29-year-old left-hander, opened last season on the Cubs' roster -- 7.36 ERA in 19 appearances, plus nine strikeouts, nine walks and three home runs -- then had a 2.84 ERA in 12 appearances for Class AAA Iowa before his season was ended by Tommy John surgery on his elbow.

Yates, a 32-year-old right-hander who had agreed more than a month ago to return to the Pirates, also had Tommy John surgery, his on July 14. He made 15 appearances last season.

The Pirates' total number of non-roster invitees is up to 16. In addition to the three above, the list has pitchers Jimmy Barthmaier, Vinnie Chulk, Craig Hansen, Jeff Karstens, Wil Ledezma, Jean Machi, Jeremy Powell, Jack Taschner, Justin Thomas and Virgil Vasquez; catchers Tony Sanchez and Erik Kratz; and outfielder Jonathan Van Every.

Before today, the only non-roster invitees known were Chulk, Karstens, Ledezma, Taschner, Thomas and Van Every.

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