|
 The Cubs had offered $8.5 million and Fowler wanted $10.8
million. Fowler, who will become a free agent after the 2015 season,
made $7.35 million last year.
The 28-year-old switch-hitter was obtained in a trade this week with
the Houston Astros for pitcher Dan Straily and infielder Luis
Valbuena.
Last season with the Astros, Fowler batted .276 with eight home runs
in 116 games. He is projected as the Cubs' regular center fielder in
2015.
With Fowler reaching agreement, the Cubs' last arbitration-eligible
player is pitcher Pedro Strop.
---The San Francisco Giants and free agent right-hander Ryan
Vogelsong agreed on a one-year contract, according to reports.
The deal is pending a physical.
Vogelsong, 37, was part of the World Series-winning rotations with
the Giants in 2012 and 2014. He went 8-13 with a 4.00 ERA in 32
starts last year, then had no decisions and a 6.57 ERA in four
postseason games (three starts).
Over 10 seasons with the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Giants,
Vogelsong has a 49-57 record and 4.42 ERA.
 --- Infielder Eric Sogard reached a contract agreement with the
Oakland A's and avoided arbitration with a one-year, $1.075 million
deal.
Sogard, 28, had asked for $1.425 million and the A's offered
$900,000 before arbitration. He made $510,000 last year.
Last season, Sogard batted .223 with one home run and 22 RBIs while
splitting time between second base (80 starts) and shortstop (12).
Sogard's deal leaves the A's with pitchers Fernando Abad, Tyler
Clippard and Jarrod Parker remaining in arbitration.
---The Philadelphia Phillies are in discussions to send right-handed
closer Jonathan Papelbon to the Milwaukee Brewers, according to
reports.
Papelbon's contract is worth $13 million this season, with a $13
million option for 2016 that vests if he finishes 48 games this
year. The contract also includes a no-trade clause that can block
deals to 17 teams.
Papelbon, 34, had 39 saves and a 2.04 ERA last season. After seven
seasons in Boston, Papelbon joined Philadelphia on a four-year, $52
million deal. Over his 10-year career, he has a 2.37 ERA and 325
saves.
---The Miami Marlins reportedly are close to an agreement on a
one-year contract with outfielder Ichiro Suzuki.
If the deal is finalized, Suzuki will earn $2 million in 2015,
ESPN.com reported Friday.
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Suzuki, 41, would be Miami's fourth outfielder -- behind right
fielder Giancarlo Stanton, center fielder Marcell Ozuna and left
fielder Christian Yelich.
Suzuki has 2,844 hits over 14 seasons with the Seattle Mariners and
New York Yankees. He was a 10-time All-Star and Gold Glove winner in
Seattle after dominating in Japan for nearly a decade.
Last season, he hit .284 with the Yankees.
---The Atlanta Braves and outfielder Jonny Gomes agreed on a
one-year contract reportedly worth $4 million.
With left fielder Justin Upton and right fielder Jason Heyward
traded, Gomes is expected to share time in left field with Zoilo
Almonte in 2015.
Gomes, 34, hit just .234 last season with the Boston Red Sox and
Oakland Athletics.
In 12 seasons, he has hit .244 with 155 home runs for Tampa Bay,
Cincinnati, Washington, Oakland and Boston.
---An MRI found no structural damage in veteran left-hander Johan
Santana's sore shoulder, according to the Venezuelan league's
website.
Santana threw two perfect innings for the Magallanes Navigators last
week then left the game due to shoulder soreness. It was Santana's
first game action of the winter.
Santana, 35, last pitched in a major-league game in 2012, when he
made 21 starts for the New York Mets. He went 6-9 with a 4.85 ERA,
throwing a no-hitter on June 1 against the St. Louis Cardinals.
He missed 2011 and 2013 due to shoulder injuries and suffered a
season-ending Achilles injury last June while rehabbing under a
minor league contract with the Baltimore Orioles.
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