"The Cardinals signed veteran reliever Scott Linebrink to a minor-league contract Friday, and the deal does include an invitation to major-league spring training.

The deal was announced by the club Friday evening.

Linebrink, 35, had a 3.64 ERA in 64 appearances (54 1/3 innings) with the Atlanta Braves last season. The righty is several years removed from his role as a late-inning shutdown reliever for the San Diego Padres. From 2004-2007, Linebrink made 290 appearances and posted a 2.79 ERA with 271 strikeouts and 254 hits allowed in 303 2/3 innings.

With the Braves, 48 of his 64 appearances last season came in the seventh inning or later.

His 64 appearances were his highest since 2007.

Linebrink made $5 million last season in the final year of a four-year, $19-million deal he original signed with the White Sox before the start of the 2008 season."