Jaso gets $8M deal

Free agent John Jaso and the Pittsburgh Pirates have agreed to an $8 million, two-year contract. The 32-year-old has played mostly in the outfield and at catcher in the past, but the Pirates plan on using him at first base, a position he has played in just two big league games.

Pedro Alvarez, who shifted from third base to first for the 2015 season, became a free agent when Pittsburgh declined to offer him a 2016 contract. Jaso will earn $4 million in each of the next two seasons under the deal announced Wednesday. He can make an addition $1 million annually in performance bonuses. Jaso spent last season with Tampa Bay, hitting .286 with five home runs and 22 RBI in 216 plate appearances. He sprained his left wrist in the first inning on opening day when he walked and slid into Baltimore’s

Ryan Flaherty at second base while trying to advance. Jaso did not return until July 7. Jaso hit .321 (17 for 53) in his last 22 games this year.

Indians infielder Zach Walters has been released from a hospital after being injured in a car accident in Las Vegas. Cleveland spokesman

Bart Swain said Wednesday that Walters is at home, “everything to this point has checked out fine” and the team will monitor the situation. Swain said Walters needed stitches over the left eye after Tuesday’s accident. Walters, 26, was acquired from Washington in 2014.