|
 Washington obtained right-hander Doug Fister from Detroit for
infielder Steve Lombardozzi and left-handers Robbie Ray and Ian Krol
on Monday. Oakland acquired closer Jim Johnson from Baltimore for
infielder Jemile Weeks and a player to be named.
Fister was 14-9 with a 3.67 ERA last season for the AL Central
champions, who last month traded slugging first baseman Prince
Fielder to Texas for second baseman Ian Kinsler.
"It gives us some flexibility for some other things we want to do,"
Tigers general manager Dave Dombrowski said, insisting the trade
wasn't made to free money for a long-term deal for AL Cy Young Award
winner Max Scherzer, who can leave after next season.
Fister joins a talented Nationals rotation that already includes
Stephen Strasburg, Jordan Zimmermann and Gio Gonzalez.
Oakland, which also closed in on a $22 million, two-year contract
with left-hander Scott Kazmir, is revamping after losing to the
Tigers in the AL division series.
The 30-year-old Johnson led the majors with 51 saves in 2012 and
tied for the big league lead last season with 50. The two-time AL
West champion A's found their closer to replace All-Star Grant
Balfour, who became a free agent after the season and is expected to
command a multiyear deal.
Meanwhile, 43 players became free agents at midnight EST when their
teams failed to offer 2014 contracts, a group that included 2009 NL
Rookie of the Year Chris Coghlan (Miami) and St. Louis reliever John
Axford.
Clubs often use the so-called tender deadline as leverage to force
agreements with players they won't go to arbitration with. Among the
players let loose were Toronto catcher J.P. Arencibia, Boston
right-hander Andrew Bailey and outfielder Ryan Kalish, Mets
right-hander Jeremy Hefner, Yankees infielder Jayson Nix, Tampa Bay
outfielder Sam Fuld and Kansas City infielder Chris Getz.
The Los Angeles Angels gained nearly $10 million of payroll
flexibility, declining to offer contracts to pitchers Tommy Hanson,
Jerome Williams and Juan Gutierrez along with third baseman Chris
Nelson.
With an excess of catching after reaching an agreement to sign Brian
McCann, the New York Yankees traded Chris Stewart to Pittsburgh for
a player to be named, and Stewart agreed to a $1 million, one-year
deal with the Pirates. The Yankees also finalized a $5 million,
two-year contract with shortstop Brendan Ryan, who became their
starter in September when Derek Jeter went back on the disabled
list.
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Kazmir's deal with Oakland is pending a
physical, a person said, speaking of anonymity because the team
hadn't finalized the contract. The 29-year-old left-hander went
10-9 with a 4.04 ERA in 29 starts and 158 innings last season
for Cleveland and becomes part of a rotation that includes Sonny
Gray and A.J. Griffin. The Athletics probably won't pursue a new
deal for 40-year-old Bartolo Colon, an 18-game winner.
Utilityman Willie Bloomquist agreed to return to Seattle pending
a physical expected to take place later this week, a baseball
official with knowledge of the deal said, also speaking on
condition of anonymity because the agreement wasn't final.
Bloomquist spent his first seven big league seasons with Seattle
and the past three with Arizona. He hit .317 for the
Diamondbacks this year but had just 139 at-bats.
Catcher Dioner Navarro agreed to an $8 million, two-year
contract with Toronto that pays $3 million next year and $5
million in 2015. The 29-year-old batted .300 with a career-high
13 homers and 34 RBIs in 89 games for the Chicago Cubs last
season. An All-Star in 2008, he has not played more than 89
games in a season since 2009 because of injuries.
Another catcher, Jose Molina, agreed to a $4.5 million, two-year
contract to remain with the Tampa Bay Rays.
Thirteen players eligible for arbitration agreed to one-year
deals: San Diego left-hander Eric Stults ($2.75 million) and
right-hander Tim Stauffer ($1.6 million); Baltimore outfielders
Nolan Reimold ($1,025,000) and Steve Pearce ($850,000); Atlanta
left-hander Jonny Venters and infielder Ramiro Pena; Washington
right-hander Ross Ohlendorf ($1.25 million); Detroit outfielder
Don Kelly ($1 million); Chicago White Sox catcher Tyler Flowers
($950,000); Philadelphia first baseman Kevin Frandsen
($900,000); Oakland right-hander Fernando Rodriguez ($600,000);
and Cleveland right-handers Frank Herrmann and Blake Wood
($560,000 each);
In agreements announced Friday, the Los Angeles Dodgers reached
deals with outfielder Mike Baxter and catcher Drew Butera
($700,000 each) and left-hander Scott Elbert ($575,000).
[Associated
Press; RONALD BLUM, AP Sports Writer]
AP Baseball Writer Janie
McCauley and AP Sports Writers Tim Booth and Larry Lage contributed
to this report.
Copyright 2013 The Associated
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