OOH...REE...BAY!
Veteran utility man agrees to Minor League deal

Chris Haft / MLB.com

The Giants have come to terms with a former Chicago White Sox infielder, but it's not Joe Crede.

They have agreed with free-agent utility man Juan Uribe on a one-year Minor League contract. SI.com initially reported the accord on Thursday, and a club spokesman confirmed that a deal had been reached. Uribe, 29, has spent the past five seasons with the White Sox -- like Crede, the free-agent third baseman San Francisco has pursued.

Uribe is not believed to be the big bat the Giants seek for the middle of their order. Although he has hit 20 or more homers in three of his eight Major League seasons, his slugging percentage dipped under .400 in each of the last two. Last year, Uribe, a .253 lifetime hitter, batted .247 with seven homers and 40 RBIs in 110 games.

Though Uribe played only four games at shortstop in 2008, he has made most of his career appearances at that spot, indicating that the Giants still might have interest in Crede. Uribe also can play second base. It was not immediately known whether Uribe's arrival will end any chance of Rich Aurilia re-signing with the Giants, who might not need two infield handyme