Baseball roundup
Kent agrees to two-year, $18.2 million deal with Astros NEW YORK (AP) – Former NL MVP Jeff Kent agreed Wednesday to an $18.2 million, two-year contract with the Houston Astros, and the Boston Red Sox agreed to deals with reliever Mike Timlin and infielder Damian Jackson.
The 34-year-old Kent, who won the NL MVP award two years ago, hit .313 last season with 37 homers and 108 RBIs, helping San Francisco win its first NL pennant since 1989.
“This was not in our plan, was not in our budget and was not on our radar screen,” Astros general manager Gerry Hunsicker said. “I would dare say, after Nolan Ryan, this is the most significant free-agent acquisition that this franchise has ever acquired.”
Kent, Biggio and Jeff Bagwell combine to give the Astros a formidable middle of the lineup.
“This team has an opportunity to do some great things,” Kent said.
San Francisco prepared for Kent’s departure by signing Ray Durham, who can play second base and the outfield, and Edgardo Alfonzo, who can play second or third.
Kent will play second base with the Astros, Hunsicker said. Biggio, a four-time Gold Glove winner, will shift to the outfield. Biggio began his career as a catcher.
“He’s already made one position change that didn’t turn out too bad,” said Hunsicker, who hasn’t had a chance to speak with Biggio about the move to the outfield.
Timlin agreed to a $1.85 million, one-year contract. The 36-year-old right-hander split last season between St. Louis and Philadelphia and had a combined record of 4-6 with a 2.97 ERA in 72 games with no saves.
“Several teams were interested and it was a matter of what role they wanted to use Mike in,” said David Sloane, Timlin’s agent. “That was the overriding consideration, to be with a contender and be used in a role he wants.”
Sloane said the Red Sox mentioned Timlin could be used as part of a “three-headed closer” system with lefty Alan Embree and righty Bobby Howry. The chance to be the primary closer also was attractive. His contract includes $950,000 in performance bonuses based on the number of games he finishes.
Jackson, who gets $625,000, hit .257 last season for Detroit with 12 steals. He has played every position but first base, pitcher and catcher during his major league career.
On Tuesday, Atlanta traded for Russ Ortiz and signed Paul Byrd, giving the Braves plenty of options heading into Greg Maddux’s decision whether to accept salary arbitration.
Free agents Joe Girardi (St. Louis) and Troy O’Leary (Chicago Cubs) found new teams, and the New York Yankees kept up their discussions with Hideki Matsui as general managers and agents kept up a frenetic pace following the relatively lifeless winter meetings.
Ortiz, a 14-game winner who helped lead San Francisco to the NL title, was dealt to the Braves for young left-hander Damian Moss and minor league right-hander Manuel Mateo. Hours later, the Braves agreed to a $10 million, two-year contract with Byrd.
“We’re restructuring our pitching staff, but not haphazardly, by bringing in Ortiz and Byrd,” Braves general manager John Schuerholz said. “It’s a strong staff, a young staff and, we believe, a good staff.”
Maddux, a four-time Cy Young Award winner, has until Thursday to accept an arbitration offer from the Braves, who lost a starter when Tom Glavine signed with the New York Mets.
Scott Boras, the agent for Maddux, said it wasn’t clear whether Tuesday’s moves would affect his client’s decision.
“He’s got some decisions to make, some choices to make,” Boras said. “He’s had offers from the Braves and other teams. He’s kind of on his own timetable.”
Atlanta’s rotation currently includes Mike Hampton, acquired from Colorado in a three-team deal, along with Ortiz, Byrd, Kevin Millwood and Jason Marquis. If Maddux accepts arbitration, the Braves could quickly trade Ortiz.
Byrd, 32, pitched for Atlanta in 1997 and 1998 before being placed on waivers and claimed by Philadelphia. He was 17-11 last season with a 3.90 ERA for Kansas City, and got a deal from the Braves that includes a $3 million salary next season and a $7 million player option for 2004 with a $2 million buyout.
St. Louis gave Girardi a one-year deal worth $725,000 and reached agreements with two players eligible for salary arbitration.
Catcher Eli Marrero received a $4.5 million, two-year contract, and right-hander Garret Stephenson, injured much of last season, got a one-year deal worth $800,000, a $100,000 cut. Teams are pushing for decisions by many arbitration-eligible players ahead of Friday’s deadline to offer 2003 contracts to unsigned players on 40-man rosters.
The Cubs continued to bolster their bench, going into the free-agent market to give O’Leary a $750,000, one-year deal that could reach $1 million with performance bonuses. Seattle agreed to a minor league contract with free-agent left-hander Norm Charlton that pays him $500,000 if he makes the team, and Boston agreed to a $2 million, one-year deal with utilityman Jeremy Giambi.
While the Yankees investigated a possible trade for Montreal’s Bartolo Colon over the weekend, they also kept up talks with Matsui. The Yankees and Matsui’s agent, Arn Tellem, have discussed a possible three- or four-year contract, with an average salary of $6 million to $8 million, a baseball executive said on the condition of anonymity.
San Francisco saved more than $2.5 million with the Ortiz trade. Ortiz, who beat Atlanta twice in the playoffs, will make $4.6 million next year, and Moss is likely to get $1 million to $2 million in arbitration.
“It was brutal,” Giants GM Brian Sabean said. “I really had a hard time getting on the phone with him. You draft him, see him develop under your eyes. If it weren’t for Russ, we wouldn’t have gotten to the World Series.”