Mets and Bay agree to 4-year, $65M deal
December 29, 2009
NEW YORK (AP)—The New York Mets and free agent slugger Jason Bay(notes) have reacheda deal.
A person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press on Tuesdaythat the sides have a preliminary agreement. The person spoke on condition ofanonymity because Bay must pass a physical for the contract to be complete.
FILE – In this Sept. 21, 2009,… AP – Dec 29, 4:25 pm EST FILE – In this May 10, 2009, f… AP – Dec 29, 4:25 pm EST
FILE – In this Aug. 12, 2009, … AP – Dec 29, 4:24 pm EST
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The three-time All-Star is expected to sign a four-year contract for about$65 million. The 31-year-old outfielder hit 36 home runs with 119 RBIs lastseason for Boston.
Bay is a career .280 hitter and has averaged 30 homers and 99 RBIs in hislast six seasons.
Bay fills a huge hole in left field for the Mets, who skidded to a 70-92mark during an injury-plagued year and were looking for a bopper.
The deal was first reported by WFAN.
Bay produced in his 1 1/2 seasons with the Red Sox, but the sides couldn’tagree on a new deal. That started a Baywatch that ended with the Mets landing atop free agent—a bat they needed for their decimated lineup, and the kind ofsplashy move their fans demanded general manager Omar Minaya make.
Bay and left fielder Matt Holliday(notes) were the biggest hitters on the market.Holliday, who split last season in Oakland and St. Louis, is seeking an evenricher deal than Bay.
Picked by many to be a playoff contender last season, the Mets never gotinto the race during their first season at Citi Field. Despite the addition ofrecord-setting closer Francisco Rodriguez(notes), New York couldn’t overcome injuriesto the likes of Jose Reyes, Carlos Beltran(notes) and Carlos Delgado(notes). By the end of theyear, the Mets were fielding makeshift lineups on a daily basis.
The vast left field at the new ballpark turned into a revolving door, witheight players starting at least seven games there. Gary Sheffield(notes), Cory Sullivan(notes)and Daniel Murphy(notes) spent the most time at the spot.
Pressure on the Mets to boost their roster heightened even more this winterwhen their city rivals, the World Series champion Yankees, traded for All-Starcenter fielder Curtis Granderson(notes) and pitcher Javier Vazquez(notes) and signed freeagent Nick Johnson(notes).
The Mets recently signed free agent pitcher Kelvim Escobar(notes), who’s been besetby injuries, and added backup catcher Henry Blanco(notes). But finding a major playerwas their priority and they hope Bay, a star since becoming the 2004 NL Rookieof the Year, will put them on the right track.
Mets, OF Bay reach preliminary agreement
December 29, 2009
NEW YORK (AP)—The New York Mets and free agent slugger Jason Bay(notes) have reacheda deal.
A person familiar with the negotiations tells The Associated Press that thesides have a preliminary agreement. The person spoke on condition of anonymitybecause Bay must pass a physical for the contract to be complete.
FILE – In this Sept. 21, 2009,… AP – Dec 29, 4:25 pm EST FILE – In this May 10, 2009, f… AP – Dec 29, 4:25 pm EST
FILE – In this Aug. 12, 2009, … AP – Dec 29, 4:24 pm EST
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The three-time All-Star is expected to sign a four-year contract. The31-year-old outfielder hit 36 home runs with 119 RBIs last season for Boston.
The Mets went 70-92 during an injury-plagued year and have been looking fora big hitter to play left field.
The deal was first reported by WFAN.
Giants sign DeRosa to 2-yr., $12M deal
December 29, 2009
SAN FRANCISCO (AP)—In Mark DeRosa(notes), the San Francisco Giants have found aversatile veteran who can hit for power and give the offense some much-neededpunch.
DeRosa has signed a $12 million, two-year contract after passing a physicalMonday. One of general manager Brian Sabean’s top priorities this winter was toadd a big bat to drive in runs in the middle of the lineup, and DeRosa bringsthat ability. He can play several infield spots and the outfield, but isexpected to work primarily at third base.
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The 34-year-old DeRosa underwent left wrist surgery after the season, whenhe batted .250 with a career-best 23 homers to go along with 78 RBIs forCleveland and St. Louis.
Diamondbacks sign RHP Howry for 1 year
December 29, 2009
PHOENIX (AP)—The Arizona Diamondbacks have signed reliever Bob Howry(notes) to aone-year contract with a club option for 2011.
Terms weren’t disclosed.
The 36-year-old right-hander was 2-6 with a 3.39 ERA in 63 appearances withthe San Francisco Giants last season. Right-handed batters hit just .207 againsthim.
Howry has a 44-49 career record in parts of 12 seasons with the ChicagoWhite Sox, Boston, Cleveland, Chicago Cubs and San Francisco.
Howry grew up in the Phoenix area and attended Deer Valley High School inGlendale.
Giants, INF DeRosa agree on 2-year deal
December 28, 2009
SAN FRANCISCO (AP)—A person with knowledge of the negotiations tells TheAssociated Press that the San Francisco Giants have reached a preliminaryagreement with veteran infielder Mark DeRosa(notes) on a two-year contract.
The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the agreement has notbeen finalized.
The addition of DeRosa would be a significant upgrade for the Giants’lineup. He was scheduled for a physical Monday and a formal announcement couldcome as soon as Tuesday.
San Francisco also is working to finalize a contract to bring back infielderJuan Uribe(notes).
Nats agree with Bruntlett, Whitesell
December 28, 2009
WASHINGTON (AP)—The Washington Nationals have agreed with infielder EricBruntlett(notes) and first baseman Josh Whitesell(notes) on minor league contracts for 2010.
Both players received invitations to major league spring training.
The 31-year-old Bruntlett played the past two seasons with the PhiladelphiaPhillies and was part of their 2008 World Series championship team.
He hit .171 in 72 games for Philadelphia last season and has a .231 careeraverage with 11 homers and 72 RBIs over seven seasons with the Phillies andHouston.
The 27-year-old Whitesell hit .194 in 46 games with Arizona last season. Heplayed in seven games for the Diamondbacks in 2008, his first season in themajors. Whitesell was drafted by the Nationals organization in 2003, when it wasstill the Montreal Expos.
Mets sign RHP Escobar to 1-year deal
December 28, 2009
NEW YORK (AP)—The New York Mets have signed right-hander Kelvim Escobar(notes) to aone-year contract.
The team announced the deal on Monday. He was expected to get $1.25 million.
Escobar, an 18-game winner in 2007, missed nearly all of the past twoseasons with the Los Angeles Angels because of shoulder trouble. If healthy, hewould likely work out of the bullpen for the Mets, who are looking for setuphelp for All-Star closer Francisco Rodriguez(notes).
The 33-year-old Escobar has extensive relief experience from his days inToronto. He came up with the Blue Jays in 1997 and saved 38 games in 2002.
Escobar was cleared a few weeks ago to pitch by Mets medical director Dr.David Altchek, who performed shoulder surgery on Escobar in July 2008.
Mets reach 1-year deal with RHP Escobar
December 26, 2009
NEW YORK (AP)—A person familiar with the negotiations tells The AssociatedPress that injury-plagued pitcher Kelvim Escobar(notes) and the New York Mets havereached a preliminary agreement on a $1.25 million, one-year-contract.
The person spoke on condition of anonymity Saturday because no announcementhad been made. The deal could be announced by Sunday.
Escobar, an 18-game winner in 2007, has missed nearly all of the past twoseasons with the Los Angeles Angels because of shoulder trouble. If healthy, theright-hander would likely work out of the bullpen for the Mets, who are lookingfor setup help for All-Star closer Francisco Rodriguez(notes) following a 70-92 season.
The 33-year-old Escobar has experience as a reliever, saving 38 games forToronto in 2002.
Nats give LHP Guardado minor league deal
December 26, 2009
WASHINGTON (AP)—Veteran left-handed reliever Eddie Guardado(notes) and the WashingtonNationals have agreed to terms on a minor league deal.
Nationals GM Mike Rizzo made the announcement Saturday. Terms were notdisclosed.
The 39-year-old Guardado is fourth among active pitchers with 908appearances in a 17-year career with the Rangers, Twins, Mariners and Reds. Thetwo-time All-Star has 187 career saves—including an American League-leading 45in 2002.
Nicknamed “Everyday Eddie,” Guardado was 1-2 with a 4.46 ERA in 48 reliefappearance last season with the Rangers.
Park sues ex-Dodgers teammate Kreuter
December 24, 2009
LOS ANGELES (AP)—Chan Ho Park(notes) has sued his former Los Angeles Dodgerbatterymate Chad Kreuter, accusing him of failing to fully pay off a $460,000loan.
Park filed the lawsuit on Wednesday in Los Angeles Superior Court, claimingbreach of promissory note and negligent misrepresentation.
The suit claims Park loaned Kreuter $460,000 in October 2005 to be repaid ayear later with interest. Park alleges Kreuter paid back $290,000 in April 2007and the unpaid balance has grown, with interest, to $281,869.73 as of Dec. 1.
Park is a free agent after playing for the Philadelphia Phillies last year.Kreuter retired in 2003.
The men played together on the Dodgers in 2000-01.
Attempts to reach Kreuter were unsuccessful.
