Ahead of swap day, Upton and Rays settle

[January 18, 2011]  NEW YORK (AP) -- A year after losing to the Tampa Bay Rays in salary arbitration, B.J. Upton decided to settle.

The 27-year-old center fielder was awarded the team's $3 million offer last winter by a three-person panel rather than his $3.3 million request. On Monday, Upton and the Rays agreed to a one-year contract worth $4,825,000.

Since 119 players filed for arbitration Friday, more than a dozen have settled their cases. By the time teams and players swap proposed arbitration figures Tuesday afternoon, only about 50 players are likely to remain without agreements, and most of those will settle before hearings are held next month.

Milwaukee Brewers slugger Prince Fielder, major league home run champion Jose Bautista of Toronto and Boston closer Jonathan Papelbon were among those set to exchange figures.

NL MVP Joey Votto finalized his $38 million, three-year contract with the Cincinnati Reds, a deal that had been agreed to over the weekend pending a physical.

Among those in arbitration who finalized agreements Monday were Colorado pitcher Matt Lindstrom ($6.6 million for two years), Washington left-hander John Lannan ($2.75 million), Cleveland shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera ($2,025,000); Kansas City right-hander Robinson Tejeda ($1.55 million). Florida struck deals with right-handers Leo Nunez ($3.65 million) and Edward Mujica ($800,000, and Toronto settled with right-handers Shawn Camp ($2.25 million), Casey Janssen ($1,095,000) and Jesse Litsch ($830,000).

Among unannounced deals were one-year contracts for Chicago White Sox right-hander Tony Pena ($1.6 million), Baltimore right-hander Jim Johnson ($975,000) and Cincinnati left-hander Bill Bray ($645,000).

Agreements for six players were announced last weekend: Chicago Cubs catcher Geovany Soto ($3 million). Blue Jays right-hander Carlos Villanueva ($1,415,000), St. Louis right-hander Kyle McClellan ($1,375,000), Oakland right-hander Brad Ziegler ($1.25 million), Philadelphia outfielder Ben Francisco ($1,175,000) and Minnesota infielder Alexi Castilla ($865,000).

Among free agents, right-hander Jon Rauch agreed to a one-year contract with the Blue Jays worth $3.75 million, and big-spending Colorado kept former AL MVP Jason Giambi with a minor league contract. The New York Mets gave infielder Willie Harris a minor league deal.

The Mets also reached an agreement with right-hander Chris Young, pending a physical, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press. The person spoke on condition of anonymity Monday because the deal had not yet been announced.

Also, the Cubs agreed to trade pitcher Tom Gorzelanny to the Nationals for prospects, a person familiar with the deal told The Associated Press. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity Monday because Gorzelanny needed to pass a physical, which is scheduled for Tuesday.

Votto receives a huge raise from the $525,000 he made last season, when he led the Reds to their first playoff appearance in 15 years. He will be eligible for free agency after the 2013 season.

"I think it gives me the opportunity to avoid arbitration and to also just concentrate on playing in the next three years," Votto said during a conference call. "It has absolutely nothing to do with getting to free agency or that, although a lot of people would interpret it that way. I can't imagine playing for another team right now."

Votto was an All-Star for the first time last season, finishing second in the league with a .324 batting average and third with 37 homers and 113 RBIs.

Colorado's deal with Lindstrom follows megacontracts that committed $157.75 million over the next decade to shortstop Troy Tulowitzki and $80 million over seven seasons to outfielder Carlos Gonzalez, plus a $21.5 million, two-year deal for left-hander Jorge De La Rosa.

"We all know that whatever you do in the winter doesn't mean a thing if you don't play well in the spring, summer and fall," general manager Dan O'Dowd said. "We've got a long ways to go to improve our style of play."

[Associated Press; By RONALD BLUM]

AP Sports Writers Joe Kay, Andrew Seligman and Arnie Stapleton contributed to this report.

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