O's Benson likely out for the season...Infielder Perez gets an invite

UNDATED (AP) _ Pitchers and catchers are flocking to Florida and Arizona to their various teams' spring training sites. Kris Benson won't be among them. <br/><br/>The agent for the Baltimore Orioles'

Monday, February 12th 2007, 10:32 pm

By: News On 6

UNDATED (AP) _ Pitchers and catchers are flocking to Florida and Arizona to their various teams' spring training sites. Kris Benson won't be among them.

The agent for the Baltimore Orioles' right-hander says Benson has a torn rotator cuff and will almost certainly miss the entire 2007 season. A recent MRI revealed a partial tear in the right shoulder, according to agent Gregg Clifton. The injury will require surgery at some undetermined date. Benson was 11-12 with a 4.84 E-R-A in 30 starts last season.

In other spring training news:

-- The Chicago White Sox have come to terms on a minor league contract with infielder Eduardo Perez. The 37-year-old is a career .247 hitter with 79 home runs and 294 RBI's. He'll be with the team in spring training.

-- The Colorado Rockies have given right-hander Matt Herges a minor league contract and have invited him to spring training. Herges, who turns 37 April first, went 2-3 with a 4.31 ERA in 66 relief appearances for Florida last season.

-- Toronto has given right-handed pitcher Pete Walker a minor league deal. The 37-year-old has pitched for four organizations during a seven-year big league career.