Baseball: Jennings, Tomko join team

Jason Jennings and Brett Tomko agreed to minor league deals with the Oakland Athletics on Saturday, and less than 24 hours later Jennings was getting ready to play catch at A's camp in Phoenix.

Also, Ben Sheets threw live batting practice for the first time and impressed the coaching staff with his velocity.

"He threw the first pitch right by somebody," A's manager Bob Geren said.

Tomko, who finished the season with Oakland last year, will continue to rehab an irritated nerve in his right arm that ended his 2009 season prematurely. He'll report to the minor league camp and is expected to be ready to pitch by May.

Jennings, the 2002 NL Rookie of the Year, pitched for the Texas Rangers last year and was eager to get started this spring.

"I packed a couple of suitcases last night and caught a 7 a.m.flight (from Dallas) this morning," Jennings said minutes after arriving at Phoenix Muni on Sunday. "It's been crazy. I've beenworking out at home trying to keep up with everybody else in spring training waiting for an opportunity."

Jennings, sporting the number 77, braved a light drizzle to play catch with A's pitching coach Curt Young in the outfield. He hopes to throw a bullpen session today.

"I want to jump into some kind of routine," he said. "This is the healthiest I've felt since 2005."

Jennings endured elbow problems the past three years as he pitched for the Houston Astros and Texas Rangers. He was converted into a relief pitcher with the Rangers last year and was 2-4 with a 4.13 ERA in 44 appearances.