01:00 AM EST on Friday, January 9, 2004

Infielder John Valentin signed a minor-league contract yesterday with the Houston Astros and will go to spring training with the team.

Valentin, who turns 37 next month, did not play in the majors last season. He spent 2002 with the New York Mets, hitting .240 with three homers and 30 RBI in 114 games. He missed part of the season with a shoulder injury. Before joining the Mets, he played the first 10 seasons of his career in Boston.

In 1,105 major-league games, Valentin hit .279 with 124 homers and 558 RBI.

Valentine was a college teammate of Astros outfielder Craig Biggio at Seton Hall.

ROUNDUP

MARINERS SIGN AURILIA: The Seattle Mariners agreed to terms with free-agent shortstop Rich Aurilia yesterday, then traded outfielder Carlos Guillen to the Detroit Tigers for Ramon Santiago and minor-league shortstop Juan Gonzalez. Aurilia's contract is believed to be a one-year deal worth $3.5 million. The 32-year-old Aurilia has spent 10 seasons with the San Francisco Giants, hitting .277 last yer despite a problem with the tear duct in his left eye that made it difficult to wear contact lenses. He has a career batting average of .278 and a career fielding average of .972. After his "dry eye" problem was corrected near midseason, Aurilia hit .312 in the second half.

JOB FOR DOWN: Rick Down was hired as the New York Yankees' coordinator of minor-league instruction yesterday, more than two months after being fired as the team's hitting coach. Down was dismissed in October, shortly after the Yankees lost the World Series in six games to the Florida Marlins, and replaced as hitting coach by Don Mattingly. He was the third hitting coach fired by the Yankees in four years, following Gary Dembo and Chris Chambliss. In other Yankee moves, infielder Erick Almonte cleared waivers and was assigned outright to Columbus, and catcher Michel Hernandez was claimed on waivers by the Boston Red Sox.

CLEMENS DEADLINE: Roger Clemens' agent expects the pitcher to decide by the end of the month whether to play for the Houston Astros this season. Clemens has been deliberating since Andy Pettitte, his close friend and former New York Yankees teammate, agreed to a contract with the Astros last month. Randy and Alan Hendricks, who represent Clemens, have had discussions with Astros owner Drayton McLane. Randy Hendricks said he expects a decision during the final two weeks of January.

EXTENSION FOR NOTTLE: Former Pawtucket Red Sox manager Ed Nottle signed a one-year contract extension yesterday with the Brockton Rox of the Northeast League. Nottle guided Brockton to the Northeast League championship last season in the Rox' second year of existence. Nottle, a former Minor League Manager of the Year and also a Pacific Coast and International League Manager of the Year, has a 92-86 record in two seasons with Brockton.

TRIBE INKS JIMENEZ: The Cleveland Indians signed right-handed reliever Jose Jimenez to a one-year contract worth just over $1 million yesterday. Jimenez gives the Indians a setup man who can also close games if Bob Wickman struggles in his return from elbow surgery. The 30-year-old Jimenez is Colorado's career saves leader with 102.

NEW DEAL FOR HUFF: Aubrey Huff was rewarded yesterday for being one of two A.L. players to finish among the top 10 in all three Triple Crown categories when he agreed to a $14.5-million, three-year contract to remain with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.