Baseball Capsules: Hopeful Rangers owner excited watching team

ARLINGTON — Chuck Greenberg bought a red Texas Rangers pullover during a rainy late-season series when he was in town preparing a bid to buy the team.

"It sat on my chair for four months. I wouldn’t put it on," Greenberg said Tuesday, sporting the pullover while watching the Rangers work out. "On Saturday night, I put it on. It felt pretty good."

Greenberg’s excitement was still evident three days after his investment group reached an agreement to buy the Rangers from Tom Hicks in a deal that will make Greenberg the team’s new CEO and managing general partner — especially on a sunny day at Rangers Ballpark with players taking batting practice during winter development camp.

"That is one of the best sounds in the world," Greenberg said. "It feels like opening day is around the corner. I’m excited to get going."

The sale still has to be reviewed and approved by major league officials. Greenberg and Nolan Ryan, the Hall of Fame pitcher who is part of Greenberg’s group and will remain team president, both believe the process can be completed by the April 5 season opener.

"My level of confidence is that it should be," Ryan said Tuesday.

Ryan first met Greenberg in May, when the Pittsburgh sports attorney who owns two minor league teams visited Texas. It soon became obvious to Ryan, whose oldest son knew Greenberg, that they would be a good fit. Now Ryan, the Rangers president the past two years, has an ownership stake in the team that will be governed by a board of directors.

"My perspective will be a little different because I do have some ownership interest in it and the fact that a lot of those people are going to look toward me for guidance on the baseball side of it," Ryan said. "I don’t know that I’ll feel any more responsibility, but I think how the club does will definitely impact where I am and my interest in it."

While the deal between Greenberg’s group and the Hicks Sports Group was reached eight days after a 30-day exclusive negotiating window had expired, Greenberg said the process actually moved swiftly.

"The reality is this all came together remarkably quickly, really from around New Year’s until Saturday night was barely three weeks," Greenberg said. "I’ve never seen such a large complex deal come together so quickly. Hopefully that pace can continue through the approval process."

The Rangers haven’t been to the playoffs since 1999 after winning all three of their AL West titles in a four-year span. They have never won a playoff series.

Texas is coming off only its second winning season (87-75) since its last playoff appearance. With a roster filled with young players, the Rangers finished second in the AL West behind the Los Angeles Angels and in the AL wild-card race behind Boston.

"My expectations today are that we are going to be extremely competitive and if we don’t win our division, I’ll be disappointed," Ryan said. "I think we’ve positioned ourselves right there with everybody else in the division."

Though Ryan acknowledged that major league officials have had to approve certain financial moves made by the Rangers since last summer, they were able to add pitcher Rich Harden to the rotation after clearing money by trading Kevin Millwood. They also signed slugger Vladimir Guerrero and right-handed starter Colby Lewis.

"There’s this extraordinary amount of pent-up enthusiasm, and hope and expectation for what this franchise can be," Greenberg said. "To see everybody so excited and believe in what’s possible, we’re going to do everything we can to make those hopes be realized."

Including the players.

"Everything that he’s been talking about has been pretty much up our alley," All-Star third baseman Michael Young said.

"(Greenberg) seems like a down-to-Earth guy. His main focus is winning and it seems like he wants to do anything possible to do that," slugger Josh Hamilton said. "So that’s a sigh of a relief as a player. "

Rangers, Francisco agree to $3.3M contract

ARLINGTON — Texas Rangers closer Frank Francisco reached an agreement Tuesday on a one-year contract worth $3,265,000 to avoid an arbitration hearing.

Francisco was seeking $3.6 million and the Rangers had countered with $3 million when they swapped figures last week.

Francisco was 2-3 with a career-best 25 saves and a 3.83 ERA in 51 relief appearances last season, when he also had three stints on the disabled list. Opposing batters hit only .214 against Francisco, who had 57 strikeouts and 15 walks in his 49 1-3 innings.

The only remaining Texas player in arbitration is right-hander Scott Feldman, a 17-game winner last season who is seeking $2.9 million. The Rangers have offered $2.05 million.

Yankees get OF Golson from Texas in minor trade

NEW YORK — The New York Yankees have acquired outfielder Greg Golson from the Texas Rangers for infielder Mitch Hilligoss in a swap of 24-year-old minor leaguers.

Texas also got between $15,000 and $20,000 cash in Tuesday’s trade.

Golson played one game in the majors last year. He hit .258 with 20 stolen bases in Triple-A. He was designated for assignment last week when Texas signed infielder Khalil Greene.

Hilligoss hit .233 in 51 games for Class A Tampa last season and missed action because of a broke right hand. He is a two-time MVP in minor league All-Star games and had a 38-game hitting streak in 2007.

American League

Orioles and Tejada together again, for $6 million

BALTIMORE — Six years after signing Miguel Tejada to a top-dollar contract, the Baltimore Orioles welcomed back the 2002 AL MVP at a bargain price.

Tejada received a $6 million, one-year contract Tuesday after passing a physical. He was introduced in a news conference at the B&O Warehouse behind the baseball diamond at Camden Yards — the same building that was filled with hope in December 2003 when Tejada signed a six-year, $72 million contract.

The Orioles have endured 12 straight losing seasons, including four with Tejada from 2004-07. The 35-year-old expects that streak to end in 2010.

"I’m going to put a lot of pressure on myself because this is a second chance for me to be a winner," Tejada said. "The last time I cannot be a winner, but I think this time is the time. I came back here for a reason."

Tejada played shortstop with Baltimore before being traded in December 2007 to the Houston Astros for five players, a key deal in the Orioles’ effort to rebuild with youth.

Now, Tejada will be asked to provide leadership at a new position: third base.

"I thought it was our job in the front office to surround our young core players with as many quality major league players as we could find, guys that were not only good players on the field but could demonstrate with their performance and their approach what it takes to win," president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail said.

Tejada is the latest addition by MacPhail during an offseason in which he has secured veterans Kevin Millwood, Garrett Atkins and Michael Gonzalez.

Tejada can earn an additional $100,000 for reaching 630 plate appearances. If he is traded the Orioles must pay him $150,000.

Back when he was with the Orioles, Tejada was hesitant to move from shortstop to third base. Now he’s willing to give it a try, because Baltimore already has Cesar Izturis at shortstop and has a hole at the hot corner.

"I know it’s not going to be an easy thing to do, but I’ll have a lot of time to work with the coaches," Tejada said.

MacPhail said he never expected a player of Tejada’s talent to be available as a free agent this late in the offseason, and noted that negotiations last week were stalled because the infielder spent several days helping victims of the earthquake in Haiti.

"The reason I went there is I have a lot of friends in Haiti," Tejada said. "The way I can support them is go up there and try to see what I can do to help them out. What happened in Haiti can happen to anybody; that’s why we have to really appreciate what we’ve got."

The Orioles were delighted to land Tejada, who made the NL All-Star team during each of his two seasons in Houston and last year hit .313 with 14 home runs and 86 RBIs in 158 games. He became a free agent after the Astros declined to offer him arbitration.

And now he’s back in Baltimore under vastly different circumstances than in his initial arrival, when he was asked to carry the team on his shoulders into the playoffs. This time, Tejada is merely a veteran presence on a team with a budding pitching staff and a lineup that includes under-30 stars Nick Markakis, Adam Jones, Matt Wieters and Nolan Reimold.

"It’s totally different," Tejada said. "You can see all the young pitchers we didn’t have when I came here the first time. I think that’s why, like the last time, it’s not about me. It’s about everybody. Now they have pitching, outfielders and young talent. They don’t have to do too much to have a winner here."

The first time he arrived in Baltimore, Tejada didn’t show up with unwanted baggage.

Last March, he was sentenced to one year of probation for misleading Congress. Tejada admitted he withheld information about an ex-teammate’s use of performance-enhancing drugs when questioned in 2005 by congressional investigators.

Tejada acknowledged he bought human growth hormone while playing for Oakland, but said he threw the drugs away without using them. Prosecutors said during his February plea hearing they had no evidence to contradict that.

MacPhail considered the past to be irrelevant.

"He went through the process, a large measure of scrutiny, and I think he handled himself well and satisfied the people that needed to be satisfied," MacPhail said. "We’ve moved on from there. I was confident that had been put behind us."

Tejada never did put Baltimore behind him, though. Even after being traded, he kept his home in the city.

"I told my agent, ‘Don’t ever sell my place because you never know,"’ Tejada said with a broad grin.

-- David Ginsburg

A’s sign free-agent RHP Sheets

OAKLAND, Calif. — Once Billy Beane received positive word on Ben Sheets’ throwing session last week, the Oakland general manager pounced.

The pitcher’s agent had an impressive offer in hand from the Athletics practically by the time Sheets was done icing down his arm afterward. It was merely an hour later.

Oakland took a mighty gamble Tuesday on Sheets, agreeing to terms with the free-agent righty on a $10 million, one-year contract only 11 months after he underwent elbow surgery that sidelined him all of last season.

A four-time All-Star, the 31-year-old Sheets becomes the team’s second-highest paid player behind six-time Gold Glove third baseman Eric Chavez.

"We were either going to get him with what we had or we weren’t, and we had to be aggressive about it," Beane said.

Manager Bob Geren immediately called Sheets his ace and opening-day starter.

When Sheets repeatedly hit 92 mph on the radar gun pitching for a big audience at his alma mater in Louisiana, taking a shot on him seemed like a no-brainer for Beane and his typically small-spending franchise.

"This is where I wanted to be. I’m glad they welcomed me with open arms," Sheets said, wearing a new green A’s cap when formally introduced at the Coliseum. "I think I’m 100 percent physically ready to go."

Sheets was so set on sticking to his routine that he played long toss with Geren’s oldest son, Bobby, after having dinner Monday night with Beane and members of the front office. He threw on turf, under the lights in a drizzle. Sheets was headed off to throw a bullpen session to Geren on Tuesday afternoon, too.

Sheets will now be able to back off his throwing program slightly to make sure he doesn’t overdo it during the spring so he’s ready for the start of the season in April.

He was put through an extensive physical Tuesday morning.

"Is there a risk? Yeah," Beane said. "That’s life on the edge a little bit. You’ve got a guy in the prime of his career who’s done what he’s done. If he didn’t have the injury, you’ve got a guy who probably would have been signed back in November to a long-term deal."

Sheets has been plagued by injuries. He didn’t pitch in the majors last season while recovering from elbow surgery but last week held a pitching session for several scouts.

The A’s sent two representatives to watch Sheets, director of player personnel Billy Owens and minor league roving pitching instructor Gil Patterson.

"They liked what they saw," assistant GM David Forst said. "Enough to lead us to think that we should pursue this."

Said Beane: "He didn’t disappoint. For January, he was probably further ahead of most pitchers."

The A’s figure they had serious competition from about a half-dozen other clubs to sign Sheets. He can earn an additional $2 million in performance bonuses based on innings: $500,000 each for 165, 175, 185 and 195 innings pitched.

Sheets attended an A’s-Rangers game with 7-year-old son Seaver — named after Hall of Famer Tom Seaver — while rehabilitating last summer in Texas. The Rangers also were seriously in the mix for his services.

Sheets spent his first eight seasons with Milwaukee, going 86-83 with a 3.72 ERA. He struck out a career-high 264 in 2004.

"Missing this whole year and concentrating on everything, I feel renewed for the game. I’m really antsy to get back out there," Sheets said. "I miss the competitive part of this game."

Sheets joins two-time All-Star Justin Duchscherer, Brett Anderson and Dallas Braden, with the other rotation spot likely going to either Gio Gonzalez, Trevor Cahill or Vin Mazzaro.

Duchscherer underwent arthroscopic right elbow surgery on March 31 and later was treated for clinical depression. He got an incentive-laden, one-year contract.

Sheets had surgery last February to repair a torn flexor tendon that he hurt in 2008.

One year ago, pre-surgery, Sheets had his mind made up that he would pitch closer to where he grew up in the South: for Texas, Houston or Atlanta. Now, he says, "It doesn’t matter where you play."

Sheets and the Rangers had been in negotiations on a two-year contract last winter but a physical for the 2008 All-Star game starter revealed the elbow problem.

Sheets joins an upgraded Oakland roster featuring new center fielder Coco Crisp and new third baseman Kevin Kouzmanoff. The A’s finished with 75 wins for the second straight season and last in the AL West.

"I knew a market was going to develop as soon as I could show I was healthy," Sheets said.

-- Janie McCauley

Twins and Thome agree to 1-year deal, $1.5M deal

MINNEAPOLIS — Jim Thome has hit 57 of his 564 career home runs against the Minnesota Twins.

Now it’s time to even it out a little.

Thome and the Twins agreed Tuesday on a one-year, $1.5 million contract, allowing the 39-year-old slugger to return to the division he knows well and play for a contender with his time in baseball winding down.

Even though he’ll be more of a bench player than the middle-of-the-lineup-force he’s been for 19 seasons, Thome was eager to join one of his longtime rivals.

"They were really excited about me coming there, so to me it was a no-brainer," Thome said on a conference call with local reporters. "I’ve always enjoyed the way they play and how they go about their business. To be a part of that will be a lot of fun to go there and help them win."

Jason Kubel is coming off a career-best season as the regular designated hitter, and the Twins are committed to Delmon Young as their left fielder. Justin Morneau is entrenched at first base.

So Thome will be used primarily as a pinch-hitter and a part-time DH, when Kubel needs a break or plays in the field. Kubel can move to right field, too, when Michael Cuddyer gets a day off or fills in at first for Morneau. Manager Ron Gardenhire didn’t rule out occasional starts at first for Thome, either.

"We play ‘em all. Everybody’s going to get at-bats," Gardenhire said.

The deal, which includes performance bonuses, is pending a physical exam.

Thome has fought back problems throughout his career, and his production has dipped in recent years after hitting 42 homers with 109 RBIs for the Chicago White Sox in 2006. Still, he’ll be remembered as one of the best sluggers of his generation, and one of the few who wasn’t found guilty of steroid use.

"We just signed a guy that’s going to be in the Hall of Fame, and it doesn’t get much better than that," Gardenhire said. "He’s going to let it fly, and if he hits it it’s going to hurt somebody."

Thome played for the Cleveland Indians for his first 12 years, topping out at 52 homers in 2002 before spending three seasons with the Philadelphia Phillies. He then came to the White Sox, who traded him to the Dodgers on Aug. 31. He saw limited action in Los Angeles.

Thome was interested in returning to Chicago, and also considering an offer from the Tampa Bay Rays, but White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen recently told Thome he wouldn’t get enough at-bats to justify a return.

Gardenhire’s sales pitch was what pushed him to Minnesota.

"Is my ability what it was at, say, 25 or 30 years old? Probably not, but I like to compete. I like to go out and play the game hard," Thome said. "That’s why this is a great fit."

Thome’s career batting average is .277. The five-time All-Star only had a total of 362 at-bats last year.

"I don’t expect him to come off the bench and be a .400 hitter. I expect him to come off the bench and be a threat," Gardenhire said. "He looks like stinkin’ Babe Ruth. He swings like Babe Ruth. We’ve seen too many fly against us. Now let’s see some fly for us."

-- Dave Campbell

Red Sox, Hermida agree to one-year deal

BOSTON — Outfielder Jeremy Hermida and the Boston Red Sox have avoided salary arbitration by agreeing to a non-guaranteed $3,345,000, one-year contract.

Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein announced the deal Tuesday. Hermida was Boston’s last remaining player eligible for arbitration. On Jan. 19, Boston avoided arbitration by agreeing to contracts with closer Jonathan Papelbon and relievers Ramon Ramirez and Manny Delcarmen.

Hermida, who turns 26 on Saturday, is projected to be the Red Sox fourth outfielder. They obtained him from the Florida Marlins on Nov. 5.

Hermida, the 11th pick in the 2002 draft, made $2.25 million last year when he batted .259 with 13 homers and 47 RBIs in 129 games.

He asked for a raise to $3.85 million and Boston offered $2.95 million.

Royals agree to terms with 4 players

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas City Royals have agreed to terms with four players on major league contracts for 2010.

Details of the agreements announced Tuesday with catcher Manny Pina, right-handed pitcher Blake Wood and left-handers Dusty Hughes and Edgar Osuna weren’t disclosed.

Pina, 22, was acquired from the Texas Rangers with outfielder Tim Smith last September. He was a Texas League all-star and batted .259 with eight home runs and 42 RBIs last year.

Hughes is 27 and went 0-2 with a 5.14 ERA in eight appearances last September for the Royals, including one start.

Osuna, 22, was 7-10 with a 4.02 ERA in the Braves system last year. Wood, 24, was 2-8 and had a 5.83 ERA in 17 appearances in the Royals system.

Teammates insulate Sabathia from contract pressure

OKLAHOMA CITY — CC Sabathia never felt as if the pressure that can come with signing a $161 million contract ever got to him.

That’s because Derek Jeter, Jorge Posada and other veterans of the New York Yankees’ previous championship runs were there to deflect it.

Before accepting the Warren Spahn Award as baseball’s top left-handed pitcher, Sabathia said Tuesday night that he experienced a calming feeling when taking the mound with such a strong supporting cast around him.

He ended up going 19-8 with a 3.37 ERA in the regular season and getting named the MVP of the American League championship series as the Yankees won their first World Series since 2000.

Sabathia says his first championship has made him hungrier to win again.

-- Jeff Latzke

National League

Manuel wanted Lee and Halladay, too

PHILADELPHIA — Just like the boisterous fans that pack the ballpark, manager Charlie Manuel wishes the Philadelphia Phillies still had Cliff Lee.

Six weeks after the two-time NL champions made the blockbuster moves to acquire Roy Halladay from Toronto and send Lee to Seattle, Manuel spoke about the deals at a news conference.

He sounded like a fan when asked how he felt about the team trading away Lee to get Halladay.

"Halladay is the best pitcher in baseball right now. Lee is a tad behind him. Of course it would’ve been nice to have both of them," Manuel said Tuesday. "It’d be good to have Halladay, Lee, (Cole) Hamels. I’d be looking good. I might even be buying more expensive furniture than the Mrs. has been buying me lately."

The Phillies traded three minor leaguers to the Blue Jays for Halladay, a six-time All-Star who won the 2003 AL Cy Young. Philadelphia then gave Halladay a $60 million, three-year extension through 2013.

Lee, a former AL Cy Young Award winner, went to the Mariners in a separate deal the same day for three prospects. Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said he needed to replenish the farm system after trading seven prospects to get Lee and Halladay.

Money was a big factor, too. Lee, who will earn $9 million this season, is expected to test free agency next winter, and there’s no guarantee the Phillies would’ve afforded his asking price.

"Baseball is a business and I understand a lot of things," Manuel said. "I have my own opinion and suggestions, but like everybody else I have a boss. From a business standpoint, the last two or three years they’ve definitely made good decisions. I trust them."

That didn’t stop Manuel from making a pitch to keep Lee. He dreamed about a rotation that includes Halladay, Lee, and Hamels, the 2008 World Series MVP. That certainly would’ve made the Phillies favorites to win their third straight NL pennant, a feat last accomplished by the St. Louis Cardinals from 1942-44.

"I’ve worked in every capacity in different organizations and I know how things wind down," Manuel said. "I voiced my opinion, but I’m not the guy making the final decision. At the same time, I’m excited about our pitching staff going into the season. I think our pitching to start the season this year is definitely better than it was to start the season last year. It’s an upgrade. I think we’ll be ready to go."

Halladay and Hamels will be followed by Joe Blanton, J.A. Happ and either Jamie Moyer or Kyle Kendrick.

Coming off their second World Series title in franchise history, the Phillies entered last year with a rotation that featured Hamels, Brett Myers, Blanton, Moyer and Chan Ho Park.

Hamels struggled, Myers had hip surgery in June and returned as a reliever, Moyer lost his starting spot to midseason acquisition Pedro Martinez and Park was replaced by Happ. Lee arrived from Cleveland in July and stabilized the rotation. He was dominant in the playoffs, going 4-0 with a 1.56 ERA in five starts and earning both of Philadelphia’s wins in the World Series against the New York Yankees.

Lee wanted to stay in Philadelphia and expressed disappointment after the trade. Manuel spoke to few people this offseason, choosing to get away and relax at his home in Winter Haven, Fla. He did reach out to Lee, however.

"I had a good talk with him. He was definitely disappointed," Manuel said. "He liked us. He liked everything about us. He liked Philadelphia. He liked the fans. He liked our team. He said we had a good attitude about winning. It was a real tough (phone call)."

-- Rob Maaddi

Phils, Ruiz finalize $8.85M, 3-year contract

PHILADELPHIA — Catcher Carlos Ruiz finalized an $8.85 million, three-year contract with the Philadelphia Phillies, avoiding salary arbitration.

Ruiz hit .255 last season with 26 doubles, a career-high nine home runs and 43 RBIs in 107 games. The Phillies went 57-43 (.570) when Ruiz started. He threw out 15 of 76 potential basestealers (19.7 percent).

Ruiz will earn $1.9 million this season, $2.75 million in 2011 and $3.7 million in 2012. The deal includes a club option for $5 million for 2013 with a $500,000 buyout.

The 31-year-old Ruiz batted a team-high .341 during the 2009 postseason, starting all 15 postseason games. He hit a three-run homer off Dodgers starter Clayton Kershaw in Game 1 of the National League championship series.

Ruiz has a .246 batting average with 22 homers and 138 RBIs in four seasons. He was the last Phillies player in arbitration.

Philadelphia and free agent catcher Brian Schneider agreed to a $2.75 million, two-year contract in December.

Santana has first mound session since surgery

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — New York Mets ace Johan Santana threw off a mound for the first time since elbow surgery last Sept. 1 and said he felt good.

The two-time Cy Young Award winner threw 24 pitches over six minutes Tuesday morning on the second day of the team’s voluntary mini-camp. It was his first time off a mound since Aug. 20.

"I feel pretty good," Santana said. "The ball was coming out pretty good. I feel like I am doing my mechanics without any problems, so that was big. And I don’t feel anything in my arm, so I think everything should be all right."

Santana’s excitement showed when he reacted to a changeup that showed the typical action hitters hate.

"It had that nice motion, so it’s good to see that this early because that tells me we are way ahead of the game," Santana said.

Santana was 13-9 with a 3.13 ERA in 25 starts last year, including 6-7 with a 4.02 from June 1 on as the bone chips in his left elbow started to bother him more.

"I wasn’t able to finish up the pitches," he said. "I wasn’t able to put my leg the way it’s supposed to and I wasn’t able to reach out. Now that’s what I was trying to do. Today, I was actually able to see my leg when I finished the pitch and that’s big. To see that this early is a good sign."

Santana recognizes it will take time to regain consistency. He expects to be in the regular rotation by the second week of spring training games and to get five spring training starts. He expects to reach 90 pitches before breaking camp.

"He looked good," general manager Omar Minaya said. "He’s loose and excited, and we are excited about that."

Belliard, Ausmus stay with Dodgers

LOS ANGELES — Ronnie Belliard’s new contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers was worth the wait. Worth the weight, that is.

The infielder’s $825,000, one-year contract, which was announced Tuesday, will become guaranteed only if he reports to spring training at 209 pounds or less. If he reports at over 209 pounds, the Dodgers can release him and owe only termination pay.

Los Angeles acquired Belliard from the Washington Nationals on Aug. 30, and the veteran immediately assumed a key role in their infield. Starting 10 games at second base and nine at third base, he batted .351 with 17 RBIs in 24 games down the stretch while Los Angeles won the NL West.

Belliard also started all eight of the Dodgers’ playoff games, batting .300.

"Ronnie was a tremendous asset to us at the end of last year in both a starting role and off the bench," Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti said.

He can earn an additional $250,000 under his new deal: $50,000 each for 350, 400, 450, 500 and 550 plate appearances.

Catcher Brad Ausmus also decided to remain with the Dodgers, agreeing to a one-year contract that guarantees $1 million.

"Brad provided us with a very strong presence off the bench last season, and his contributions were many, both on and off the field," Colletti said.

The 40-year-old batted .295 with nine RBIs in 36 games as Russell Martin’s backup last season. Ausmus, who returns for his 18th major league season, gets $850,000 this year and the Dodgers hold a $1 million option for 2011 with a $150,000 buyout.

He can earn $100,000 more per year in performance bonuses: $25,000 each for 150, 175, 200 and 225 plate appearances.

AP source: Cubs reach agreement with Nady

CHICAGO — A person familiar with the negotiations says outfielder Xavier Nady and the Chicago Cubs have reached preliminary agreement on a one-year, $3.3 million contract.

The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Tuesday because the team had not yet announced the deal.

Nady’s contract is contingent on him passing a physical. He underwent elbow reconstructive surgery for the second time in his career last July while with the New York Yankees. He played in only seven games.

Nady joins a Cubs outfield mix that includes Alfonso Soriano, Kosuke Fukudome and Marlon Byrd. Nady is a career .280 hitter with 87 homers in 679 major league games with the Padres, Mets, Pirates and Yankees.

In addition to the base salary, Nady could earn another $2.05 million in performance bonuses based on games played.

-- Rick Gano

Ariz. city says Cubs make spring training decision

MESA, Ariz. — Officials in the Phoenix suburb of Mesa say the Chicago Cubs have reached a decision about the team’s spring training home, but won’t say what that is until Wednesday.

The decision is set to be announced at a news conference including Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer and top state lawmakers on Wednesday morning.

The Mesa City Council on Monday approved an agreement that would help keep the Cubs’ spring training home in Arizona. It would require a change in state law and approval by Mesa voters.

Under the deal, Mesa would build an $84 million stadium and training facility for the Cubs, and the team would stay in Arizona for at least another 25 years.

The Cubs have trained in Mesa since the 1950s but city officials in Naples, Fla., are trying to lure them away.

Cardinals give Hill non-roster invitation

ST. LOUIS — The St. Louis Cardinals have invited left-handed pitcher Rich Hill, formerly of the Chicago Cubs and Baltimore Orioles, to spring training.

The 30-year-old Hill agreed to terms on a minor league contract after going 3-3 with Baltimore last season. Hill spent parts of four seasons with the Cubs from 2005-08, going 11-8 with a 3.92 ERA in 32 starts in 2007, and has a career mark of 21-20 with a 4.87 ERA.

He is among 17 players given non-roster invitations by the Cardinals on Tuesday. Lance Lynn, the franchise’s minor league pitcher of the year, also is on the list along with catcher Robert Stock, a second-round pick in 2009.

Pitchers and catchers report to Jupiter, Fla., on Feb. 17 with the first workout on Feb. 18.

Brewers agree to 1-year deal with RHP Villanueva

MILWAUKEE — The Milwaukee Brewers and right-hander Carlos Villanueva have agreed to a one-year, $950,000 contract, avoiding salary arbitration.

Villanueva was 4-10 with a 5.34 ERA in 64 appearances, including six starts, last season.

After Tuesday’s deal with Villanueva, outfielder Corey Hart is the final Brewers player who remains eligible for arbitration. Brewers general manager Doug Melvin has never had a case reach an arbitration hearing since taking over in Milwaukee in 2002.

Elsewhere

Study: How to catch a fly ball? Keep an eye on it

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — A new study finds the way that baseball outfielders catch fly balls is simple: by keeping their eyes on the ball.

A paper by researchers at Brown University delves into how fielders snag balls batted high in the air — a long-running question among scientists who study perception and a puzzle to sports fans who wonder how baseball greats such as Willie Mays made seemingly impossible catches.

The researchers asked varsity baseball and softball players from Brown to catch virtual balls in a virtual reality lab. Players wore special goggles that allowed them to watch simulated fly balls and ran around the 40-by-40-foot lab trying to catch them.

Some of the balls they caught followed trajectories that were physically impossible, allowing researchers to sort out what figures into a player’s calculation when going after a fly ball.

One theory was that players predict where a fly ball will land based on its trajectory, said professor William Warren, who co-wrote the paper, published last month in the online Journal of Vision.

Instead, the researchers discovered that players watch the ball and position themselves so that it appears the ball is neither speeding up nor slowing down, he said. If the ball appears to be speeding up, the player should move back, and if it’s slowing down, the player should move forward, said Warren, chair of Brown’s Department of Cognitive and Linguistic Sciences.

"It’s actually very simple," he said.

The results confirm the findings of a 2008 study that found soccer players use a similar technique when attempting to head the ball, according to Peter McLeod, a retired professor of psychology at Oxford University, who co-authored that paper. McLeod calls it "the mystery of catching" and says that, put another way, players running to catch a fly ball are making sure the angle of their gaze increases the closer they get to it.

"It’s at its highest just before they catch the ball," he said.

Warren said the Brown research, which was funded by the National Institutes of Health, eventually could be used in robotics or to help people with vision problems. But it also tells us something about what makes someone as good as Mays, which could be that top-notch outfielders are especially sensitive to this variable, Warren said.

Still, even science can’t explain some of baseball’s most spectacular catches, such as Mays’ famous grab in Game 1 of the 1954 World Series between the New York Giants and the Cleveland Indians. In that game, a sprinting Mays caught a fly ball hit by the Indians’ Vic Wertz deep into center field — over his shoulder and without looking.

"He took his eye off the ball and managed to catch it anyway," Warren said. "Perhaps luck is what made it the most famous catch in history."

-- Michelle R. Smith