Baseball Capsules: Red Sox discuss sending Lowell to Texas

INDIANAPOLIS — The Boston Red Sox are discussing a trade that would send 2007 World Series MVP Mike Lowell to the Texas Rangers.

The 35-year-old was an All-Star four times from 2002-07, hitting .324 with 21 homers and 120 RBIs in 2007. But he slumped to 73 RBIs in 2008 and 75 RBIs this year, hitting 17 homers each season. He was slowed by surgery in October 2008 to repair a torn labrum in his right hip and a remove bone spur on a thigh bone.

He is owed $12 million in 2010, the final season of a $37.5 million, three-year contract. Rangers general manager Jon Daniels said the team still are discussing the trade, which also would be subject to physicals. Boston would have to give Texas money to offset a portion of Lowell’s salary.

"Some of the reports of how close it is might be a little bit overstated," Daniels said Thursday. "Both clubs are evaluating. I think the general parameters are understood and both clubs need to decide whether it’s the right fit."

Texas has been one of the busier teams at the winter meetings. The Rangers traded pitcher Kevin Millwood and $3 million to Baltimore for reliever Chris Ray on Wednesday night and acquired left-hander Ben Snyder from the Orioles on Thursday to complete the swap.

By trading Lowell, the Red Sox would clear a spot at third base, freeing them to work out a deal with free agent Adrian Beltre, who was replaced in Seattle by Chone Figgins.

Money appears to be an issue in a Lowell trade.

"Both clubs know what’s on the table and we’ll continue to talk here and work through it," Daniels said.

Rich Harden, Rangers agree to $7.5M, 1-year deal

INDIANAPOLIS — Rich Harden and the Texas Rangers completed a one-year contract Thursday that guarantees the right-hander $7.5 million.

The deal calls for a $6.5 million salary next year and includes an $11.5 million mutual option for 2011 with a $1 million buyout. Harden can earn an additional $250,000 next year in performance bonuses.

The oft-injured Harden had to pass a physical before the agreement was finalized.

Texas reached a preliminary agreement with Harden on Wednesday, the same day it traded starting pitcher Kevin Millwood to Baltimore along with $3 million for reliever Chris Ray and a player to be named.

Harden struck out 171 batters in 141 innings last season, going 9-9 with a 4.09 ERA for the Chicago Cubs, who acquired him from Oakland in July 2008 along with right-hander Chad Gaudin for right-hander Sean Gallagher, outfielders Matt Murton and Eric Patterson, and catcher Josh Donaldson.

Harden, who turned 28 last month, is 50-29 with a 3.39 ERA in seven big league seasons. He has been slowed by seven trips to the disabled list for a strained left oblique (2005), strained back (2006 and 2009), sprained elbow ligament (2006), and strained shoulder (twice in 2007 and once in 2008).

-- Ronald Blum

Feliz agrees to $4.5M, 1-year contract with Astros

INDIANAPOLIS — The Houston Astros landed a new third baseman on the final day of the winter meetings, agreeing Thursday to a $4.5 million, one-year contract with Pedro Feliz.

The 34-year-old hit .266 with 12 homers and 82 RBIs last season for NL champion Philadelphia Phillies, who declined a $5.5 million option for 2010 and opted to pay a $500,000 buyout. Philadelphia then brought in Placido Polanco to replace him, agreeing to an $18 million, three-year deal.

"He’s been an outstanding defensive player and a solid run producer for his entire career," Astros general manager Ed Wade said. "He played a premium position with a two-time World Series participant and was a key part of the Phillies’ success. We’re fortunate to have him on board."

Feliz is slated to take over from Geoff Blum, who started 94 games at third for Houston last season, and Jeff Keppinger, who started 67.

"Geoff Blum has done a terrific job for us over the past two seasons, and despite the acquisition of a regular third baseman, we believe Geoff will get his at-bats with us and be a key contributor all around the infield," Wade said. "It’s been a good week for us."

Houston bolstered its bullpen this week by acquiring Matt Lindstrom in a trade with Florida and reached a preliminary agreement with Brandon Lyon on a $15 million, three-year contract.

AP source: Lyon gets $15M, 3-yr deal with Astros

INDIANAPOLIS — Reliever Brandon Lyon reached a preliminary agreement with the Houston Astros on a $15 million, three-year contract, a person familiar with the negotiations said Thursday.

The deal is subject to the 30-year-old right-hander passing a physical, the person said, speaking on condition of anonymity because the agreement was not yet final.

Lyon will get $4.25 million next year, $5.25 million in 2011 and $5.5 million in 2012.

He was 6-5 with three saves and a 2.86 ERA last season for Detroit and made $4.25 million. Overall, he is 27-34 with a 54 saves and a 4.20 ERA in eight major league seasons. Lyon had a career-best 26 saves for Arizona in 2008.

A day earlier, Houston acquired hard-throwing reliever Matt Lindstrom from Florida for two minor leaguers — right-hander Robert Bono and infielder Luis Bryan — and a player to be named. On Thursday, the Astros sent Jorge Jimenez to the Marlins to complete the trade after selecting the infielder from the Boston Red Sox organization in the winter meeting draft.

-- Ronald Blum

League News

Meetings over, teams & players wait each other out

INDIANAPOLIS — As general managers headed out the hotel doors and into the bone-chilling air, most had much work to do. Only the New York Yankees, Houston, Texas and Milwaukee accomplished a lot this week during the winter meetings.

The top three free agents — John Lackey, Matt Holliday and Jason Bay — remained unsigned. Toronto ace Roy Halladay was still being shopped.

With two weeks left until the holiday break, agents and teams figure to try to wear each other down. Some premier players may not know their spring training destination until January.

Essentially, teams are acting as if they were shoppers waiting for price drops. Why pay full price when markdowns might be coming soon, especially for position players?

"You can turn left, you can right, you can look up and down and you’ve got a DH sitting right there begging for a job," Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said.

Some players seem to be waiting to find out where the Yankees will bid for them. The big-market teams are holding back, and the small-market clubs are hunting for bargains.

"I’ve kind of been programmed since Day 1 here not to use those words: ‘small market.’ But the facts of it are that’s what we are," Kansas City manager Trey Hillman said. "We have to get a spur-plus developed within our own system to be able to fund it ourselves."

The Los Angeles Dodgers were a major story at the meetings — for what they didn’t do. Seemingly paralyzed by owners tangled up in a divorce, the Dodgers don’t appear to be involved in any big-money moves, removing one of the traditional market makers.

The World Series champion Yankees obtained All-Star center fielder Curtis Granderson in the only major trade of the meetings, a three-team, seven-player swap that also included Detroit and Arizona. New York also kept pitcher Andy Pettitte with an $11.75 million, one-year deal.

Houston bolstered its bullpen by acquiring Matt Lindstrom in a trade with Florida, reached a preliminary agreement with reliever Brandon Lyon on a $15 million, three-year contract and agreed to a $4.5 million, one-year deal with third baseman Pedro Feliz.

Milwaukee also raced to add arms, striking preliminary deals with starter Randy Wolf ($29.75 million over three years) and reliever LaTroy Hawkins ($7.5 million over two seasons).

The cash-strapped Rangers, in the process of being sold, created some flexibility by shipping pitcher Kevin Millwood and $3 million (to cover part of his $12 million salary) to Baltimore for reliever Chris Ray. Texas then agreed to a $7.5 million, one-year deal with oft-injured right-hander Rich Harden.

As the meetings wound down, Texas and Boston were discussing a trade that would send 2007 World Series MVP Mike Lowell to the Rangers.

The 35-year-old was an All-Star four times from 2002-07, hitting .324 with 21 homers and 120 RBIs in 2007. But he slumped to 73 RBIs in 2008 and 75 RBIs this year, hitting 17 homers each season. He was slowed by surgery in October 2008 to repair a torn labrum in his right hip and remove a bone spur on a thigh bone.

He is owed $12 million in 2010, the final season of a $37.5 million, three-year contract. Rangers general manager Jon Daniels said the teams still are discussing the trade, which also would be subject to physicals. Boston would have to give Texas money to offset a portion of Lowell’s salary.

"Both clubs are evaluating. I think the general parameters are understood and both clubs need to decide whether it’s the right fit," he said.

Surprised that Rafael Soriano accepted salary arbitration, Atlanta was close to sending the reliever to Tampa Bay for pitcher Jesse Chavez. The teams were waiting for the medical reports to be approved, and Soriano seemed set to approve the trade — a necessary component.

The right-hander had 27 saves last season for the Braves, who signed free-agent relievers Billy Wagner and Takashi Saito — making Soriano redundant.

-- Ronald Blum

Yankees get OF Hoffmann, top pick in Rule 5 draft

INDIANAPOLIS — The New York Yankees acquired outfielder Jamie Hoffmann on Thursday, completing this week’s trade that sent reliever Brian Bruney to Washington.

The Nationals made Hoffmann the first pick in the winter meeting draft, then traded him to the Yankees. The draft is held for players with at least four years of pro ball who have been left off 40-man rosters.

Hoffmann made his major league debut last season, going 4-for-22 with one home run and seven RBIs for the Los Angeles Dodgers. He hit a combined .291 with 10 homers and 64 RBIs in Triple-A and Double-A.

Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said Hoffmann will compete for the final roster spot for the World Series champions. The 25-year-old Hoffmann also was picked in the 2003 NHL draft by the Carolina Hurricanes.

"He’s got a hockey mentality, a Minnesota kid," Cashman said. "A very athletic, hard-nosed outfielder."

"We’ll see where it takes us. We feel he’s got great makeup. He’s got ability. We project him in the future as an everyday-type player," he said.

Hoffmann and Brett Gardner could be in the mix for the last spot as a reserve outfielder.

"Gardy’s a pure center fielder with blazing speed. This guy, he’s got some thump. He’s a big boy," Cashman said.

Teams pay $50,000 apiece for players in the Rule 5 draft. They must either remain on the major league 25-man roster or disabled list all season or be offered back to their original club for $25,000.

After the Nationals took Hoffmann from the Dodgers’ system, Pittsburgh drafted outfielder John Raynor from Florida.

Baltimore picked left-hander Ben Snyder from the San Francisco organization with the third choice. The Orioles traded Snyder to Texas, completing Wednesday’s trade that sent Kevin Millwood to Baltimore and Chris Ray to the Rangers.

AP Source: Braves near deal to send Soriano to TB

INDIANAPOLIS — A person familiar with the deal says the Atlanta Braves are close to trading reliever Rafael Soriano to the Tampa Bay Rays for pitcher Jesse Chavez.

The teams were waiting for the medical reports to be approved, the person told The Associated Press on Thursday. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the trade hadn’t been finalized.

Soriano had 27 saves last season for Atlanta. This week, he agreed to the Braves’ offer of salary arbitration.

The Braves recently signed free agent relievers Billy Wagner and Takashi Saito. That made Soriano expendable, and the Rays were looking for late-inning relief help.

-- Ben Walker

National League

Nationals expected to introduce Ivan Rodriguez

WASHINGTON — The Washington Nationals say there will be a news conference at their stadium Friday, when they’re expected to announce the signing of free agent Ivan Rodriguez.

The 38-year-old catcher agreed this week to a $6 million, two-year contract, pending a physical.

A 14-time All-Star and the 1999 AL MVP, Rodriguez split last season between Houston and Texas. He hit a combined .249 with 10 homers and 47 RBIs.

Rodriguez, a 13-time Gold Glove winner, is slated to be a backup to Jesus Flores, who missed most of last season with injuries.

After playing for Texas from 1991-02, Rodriguez spent one season with Florida and 4½ with Detroit before finishing 2008 with the New York Yankees. He then signed with Houston, and the Astros traded him to the Rangers in August.

Mets make offers to Jason Bay, Bengie Molina

NEW YORK — Looking to fill two big holes and add much-needed power to their lineup, the New York Mets have made contract offers to a pair of free agents: left fielder Jason Bay and catcher Bengie Molina.

The team’s bid for Bay was between $60 million and $65 million over four years. Molina would cost much less.

As club executives headed home Thursday on the final day of the winter meetings in Indianapolis, the Mets confirmed making offers to Bay and Molina — without revealing details.

Bay batted .267 with 36 homers and 119 RBIs last season for Boston. He is said to have turned down a $60 million, four-year offer from the Red Sox.

The 35-year-old Molina hit .265 with 20 homers and 80 RBIs this year for San Francisco.

Crosby and Pirates agree to 1-year contract

INDIANAPOLIS — Former AL Rookie of the Year Bobby Crosby and the Pittsburgh Pirates agreed Thursday to a $1 million, one-year contract.

The 29-year-old infielder had spent his previous seven seasons with Oakland and was voted the rookie honor in 2004, when he batted .239 with 22 homers and 64 RBIs.

He hit just .223 this year with six homers and 29 RBIs in 238 at-bats, becoming the first Oakland player to appear in at least five games at four infield positions since Ernest Riles in 1991. He went on the disabled list in August because of a strained left calf.

Crosby can earn $500,000 in performance bonuses based on plate appearances.

American League

City of Oakland offers 3 possible ballpark sites

OAKLAND, Calif. — The City of Oakland unveiled three waterfront sites Thursday as potential spots to build a new ballpark for the Oakland Athletics and ultimately keep the team from leaving town.

As the small-budget A’s have seen before, there are still plenty of hurdles ahead. In the past they haven’t been able to find a suitable spot to build and were set to leave Oakland and move to nearby Fremont until that plan fell through.

More recently, owner Lew Wolff has been determined to move the team to San Jose — though the San Francisco Giants hold the rights to that territory. Wolff felt the A’s had exhausted their options in Oakland after several years of trying.

Oakland mayor Ron Dellums said Thursday the project also would be about bolstering the blue-collar city’s economic future by creating jobs and helping turn Oakland into a destination spot. The three sites would be within easy access of public transit, parking and would offer other options for entertainment and food.

"This city’s leadership has a clear, concise and unified message for Major League Baseball: Keep the A’s in Oakland," Dellums said. "This project is not solely about a baseball stadium. This is about continuing our efforts to bolster Oakland’s economic future."

Two of the spots hadn’t been previously studied, including one in the popular Jack London Square area that would be easy to get to off the heavily traveled 880 interstate.

In March, Dellums and the city council wrote to commissioner Bud Selig to tell him the city would do everything in its power to keep the A’s in town. Selig — who has repeatedly said the A’s can’t survive playing in the run-down Oakland Coliseum they share with the NFL’s Raiders — then formed a task force to analyze the situation.

The nonprofit group "Let’s Go Oakland!" has generated tens of thousands of supporters and petitioned to Major League Baseball to keep the team in Oakland.

"The stadium situation is in the hands of the commissioner and the committee and we won’t be commenting on the stadium situation until they make a decision," said Ken Pries, A’s vice president of broadcasting and communications.

Wolff, a Los Angeles real estate developer, has worked hard to find a better venue for his team.

The A’s had planned to build a state-of-the-art stadium in nearby Fremont that they thought would eventually transform the small-market club into a big spender.

But that plan, which would have been in partnership with Cisco Systems, Inc., fell through because of a variety of complications — including public transportation issues.

The team had agreed to purchase 143 acres of land from Cisco in suburban Fremont, about 20 miles south of the Coliseum. The plan had called for the ballpark to open in time for the 2011 season.

That stadium — with a price tag of around $500 million that was to primarily come from private funds — was to seat between 30,000 and 34,000 fans, an intimate venue with an impressive range of technological capabilities and surrounding features outside the fences.

Wolff certainly would be interested in a similar type of ballpark, especially considering Oakland has struggled mightily to fill the stands in recent seasons.

-- Janie McCauley

Indians hire Charles Nagy

CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Indians have hired former pitcher Charles Nagy as their pitching coach at Triple-A Columbus.

Nagy pitched for the Indians from 1990-2002. He won 129 games and was a major contributor as Cleveland won six AL Central titles and made two World Series appearances in a seven-year span. A three-time All-Star, Nagy was inducted into the Indians’ Hall of Fame last summer.

Nagy, 42, worked as a special assistant to Indians general manager Mark Shapiro from 2004-05. In Columbus, he replaces Scott Radinsky, who was promoted to new Indians manager Manny Acta’s staff in Cleveland as bullpen coach.

Nagy was the pitching coach for the Triple-A Salt Lake Bees in the Los Angeles Angels’ organization from 2006-2007.

International

New IBAF leader has plans to shake up baseball

ROME — Newly elected International Baseball Federation president Riccardo Fraccari wants to shake up the sport’s World Cup format and make another attempt to get back into the Olympics.

In an interview with The Associated Press on Thursday, Fraccari discussed the possibility of making the World Cup a qualifying tournament for the World Baseball Classic.

Fraccari also said baseball needs to work with softball to get back in the Olympic program for the 2020 Games.