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Baseball's average salary increased 3.8 percent this year to a record $3.2-million.

According to final figures released Friday by the Major League Baseball Players Association, the rise was the steepest since 2007. The boost was helped by an increase in the minimum salary from $414,000 to $480,000.

The New York Yankees had the highest average for the 14th consecutive season at $6.88-million, rising after consecutive declines from a peak of $7.66 million when they won the World Series in 2009. The Los Angeles Dodgers boosted their average from 13th to second at $5.55-million, followed by the Los Angeles Angels ($5.48 million) and AL champion Detroit ($4.95-million). Texas went up from 15th to fifth at $4.89 million.

At $684,940, Houston had the lowest average since the 2006 Florida Marlins at $594,722.

The Boston Red Sox and Cubs had their lowest averages since at least 2000. Boston dropped from third to 12th at $3.3-million and the Cubs seventh to 23rd at $2.1-million.

World Series champion San Francisco remained eighth, averaging $4.07-million. AL West champion Oakland was 28th at $1.79-million.

Kansas City rose from last in 2011 to 26th at $2.04-million, and Pittsburgh went up from 27th to 19th at $2.47-million.

The Marlins increased from 19th to 10th after adding free agents Jose Reyes, Mark Buehrle and Heath Bell but have traded them in the team's latest payroll slashes and will drop next year.

Among regulars at positions, first basemen took over from designated hitters as the highest average at $8.6-million, followed by DHs at $8.1-million. Third base was next at $7.1-million, followed by starting pitchers at $6.1-million, second basemen $4.9-million, outfielders $4.6-million, shortstops $4.2-million, catchers $3.4-million and relief pitchers $1.8-million.

Figures are based on Aug. 31 rosters and disabled lists, with 944 players averaging $3,213,479. Major League Baseball has not yet computed its final averages, which usually differ slightly because of methods of calculation.

The Rangers have traded seven-time All-Star infielder Michael Young to the Phillies for right-handed reliever Josh Lindblom and Minor League pitcher Lisalverto Bonilla.

Young departs after 12 seasons with the Rangers and is their all-time leader in games, at-bats, runs, hits, doubles and triples. He was considered the undisputed clubhouse leader on a team that went to two straight World Series in 2010-11 and was five times voted as the club's Player of the Year.

Rangers shortstop Elvis Andrus tweeted: "Super sad that our captain Michael Young is gone wish the best for him and his family." The deal was awaiting approval by the Commissioner's Office because of the amount of money being exchanged. That approval is expected, but will not happen until at least Sunday. No formal announcement on the trade was made Saturday night.

But, while the Rangers were waiting on that, they were informed on Saturday that free-agent pitcher Zack Greinke was reportedly close to signing a six-year deal with the Dodgers.

The Rangers discussed the trade for Young with the Phillies at the Winter Meetings. Young had the right to reject any trade because he has at least 10 years of Major League experience and five years with the Rangers.

But accepting this trade allows him to play third base for the Phillies rather than be stuck in a utility infielder role for the Rangers that would likely have reduced his playing time. The Rangers are expected to pick up as much as $10 million of Young's $16 million salary for 2013.

Lindblom, 25, was a second-round pick by the Dodgers in the 2008 First-Year Player Draft and was traded to the Phillies, along with two other players, on July 31 for outfielder Shane Victorino. He was 3-5 with a 3.55 ERA in 74 combined games, allowing 7.7 hits, 4.4 walks and 8.9 strikeouts per nine innings.

Bonilla, 22, was 2-1 with a 1.64 ERA in 21 relief appearances at Double-A Reading this past season. He allowed six hits, 4.6 walks and 12.5 strikeouts per nine innings. Bonilla started the year at Class A Clearwater and had a 1.35 ERA in 10 games, with 6.1 strikeouts, 2.7 walks and 12.2 strikeouts per nine innings. He was ranked No. 15 by MLB-com among the Phillies' top prospects.

Young hit .277 with the Rangers, his lowest since 2002, with eight home runs and 67 RBIs. His .682 OPS was the lowest of his career.

The Rangers are looking to revamp their lineup. They still want to re-sign Josh Hamilton, but they have also talked to the D-backs about a trade for right fielder Justin Upton. If the Rangers acquire Upton, then it could mean that Nelson Cruz ends up as their designated hitter.






Rangers deal Michael Young to Phils for two right-handers | MLB-com: News

The Indians' need for right-handed power in their lineup has become glaringly obvious over the past few seasons. If only for one year, Cleveland believes it has found a solution.

On Sunday evening, the Indians agreed to a one-year contract with corner infielder Mark Reynolds, sources told MLB-com. Reynolds will presumably take over as the Tribe's first baseman and will earn a base salary of $6 million with another $1.5 million available in incentives. Pending the completion of a physical, an official announcement will likely come within the next few days.

Indians general manager Chris Antonetti could not be reached for comment.

This seemingly takes the Indians out of the running for free-agent infielder Kevin Youkilis, who has a one-year contract worth $12 million on the table from the Yankees to handle third base. It is believed that Cleveland offered Youkilis a two-year deal worth a reported $18 million to play first base, but the Reynolds signing potentially renders that proposal moot.

As things currently stand, the Indians plan on handing the keys to third base over to youngster Lonnie Chisenhall, leaving first base as the only infield spot in need of a starter. Cleveland does have a vacancy at designated hitter, so it is possible the club could try to sell Reynolds and Youkilis on a rotation at first and DH. At-bats would also be available at third base on days Chisenhall did not play.

The 29-year-old Reynolds -- non-tendered by the Orioles last month -- made $7.5 million with Baltimore last season. Amid a thin free-agent class of first basemen, Reynolds, who would have made around $9 million in arbitration, was willing to return to the O's, but not at a significantly reduced salary.

The Orioles never offered Reynolds any type of deal and several teams expressed interest in Reynolds at last week's Winter Meetings. One of them was Cleveland, which has its Spring Training facility in Arizona, allowing Reynolds to live at home during big league camp.

Reynolds opened the 2012 season at third base, but committed six errors in 40 chances and was moved across the diamond to first, where he worked himself into an above-average first baseman. Reynolds frequently took some good-natured ribbing for his tendency to never stay on his feet, but he became adept at picking balls in the dirt and making excellent scoops, resulting in a .995 fielding percentage in 108 games at the position.

Offensively, Reynolds recovered from a poor first half to post a .221 batting average with a .335 on-base percentage and a .429 slugging percentage, collecting 23 homers and 69 RBIs in 135 games.

Sixteen of his homers came in the final two months of the season after he got past the most prolonged slump of his career. Through Reynolds' first 85 games, he hit .211 with eight homers and 33 RBIs and struck out 104 times. He did draw walks throughout the season, leading the team in free passes for a second straight year, with 73, and he helped the Orioles reach their first postseason in 15 years by hitting 15 homers and posting a .517 slugging percentage in his final 50 games.

A well-liked player in the clubhouse, Reynolds played through numerous injuries during the season. He was hit by a pitch six times during the regular season and twice in six postseason games. Health was a question to everyone but Reynolds, who deflected any notion that he might need to miss time.

The Orioles acquired him from the D-backs on Dec. 6, 2010, in exchange for right-handers David Hernandez and Kam Mickolio.

Arguably the best season of Reynolds' six years in the big leagues came in 2009, when he hit .260 with 44 home runs and 102 RBIs for Arizona. The right-handed hitter also set a single-season Major League record with 223 strikeout that year. Reynolds is the only player in big league history to turn in at least two seasons with 200 or more strikeouts, and he has done so three times in his career.

Reynolds makes up for the high volume of strikeouts with solid power, having launched an average of 30 home runs per year in his career. In two years with Baltimore, he averaged 30 home runs, 78 RBIs and 145 games per season. Even in a down year, Reynolds' 23 long balls a year ago would have led the Indians, whose team leader had just 18 (Carlos Santana).





Mark Reynolds agrees to one-year deal with Indians | MLB-com: News

The Twins have agreed to a two-year deal worth $10 million with right-hander Kevin Correia, according to an ESPN.com report.

Correia posted a 4.21 ERA with 89 strikeouts and 46 walks in 171 innings with the Pirates last season. The 32-year-old, who had a 51.2 percent ground-ball rate, which ranked tied for seventh in the National League, made 28 starts and four relief appearances in 2012.

He has a career 4.54 ERA with 712 strikeouts and 381 walks in 1,066 innings.

Correia would fill a major need for the Twins, as the club is looking to add starting pitching to a rotation that currently includes only Scott Diamond and Vance Worley, who was acquired by the Twins on Thursday in the trade that sent Ben Revere to Philadelphia.

Frustrations are beginning to bubble over for R.A. Dickey, who expressed "disappointment" Tuesday that he and the Mets have yet to strike a contract agreement, while indicating he is unlikely to return to the Mets in 2014 if they bring him back next year without a new deal.

"You want what you think is fair, and ... I feel like we're asking for less than what's fair," Dickey said at a Citi Field holiday party to benefit Far Rockaway, Queens, schoolchildren. "There is a surprise sometimes when things don't get done quickly and you already think that you're extending the olive branch.

"At the same time, they have a budget they have to adhere to and that's part of it, too. I don't know those numbers, and I try not to take it personally."

Reports Tuesday indicated that the Mets were in the process of increasing their offer to two years and $20 million, on top of the $5 million they already owe Dickey for next season. Dickey's camp has made it clear that the knuckleballer seeks closer to $30 million total.

"We're in a similar place today that we were last week," general manager Sandy Alderson said. "Some of the surrounding circumstances have changed somewhat, so I would hope that we'll have more clarity within a few days. But in the meantime, we're more or less status quo."

The most obvious surrounding circumstance involves a starting-pitching market exploding around them. Zack Greinke recently finalized a six-year, $147 million contract with the Dodgers, while the Royals parted with a top-flight prospect package for James Shields. Dan Haren inked a one-year deal with the Nationals worth $13 million, the Angels gave Joe Blanton $15 million over two years and Jeremy Guthrie negotiated $25 million over three years from the Royals.

Dickey, the National League Cy Young Award winner who has outperformed all of those pitchers over the past three years -- most by wide margins -- is seeking fewer dollars annually than any of them. That is why he is miffed at the pace of negotiations.

"Things are emotional for me," Dickey said. "I think when people say, 'It's business; it's not personal,' well, that just means it's not personal for them. It can be personal for me. I'm hoping that it's going to end up in a good place, but you can't help but think in the back of your mind that it may not. And that's sad."

Alderson and his lieutenants spent much of their time last week at the Winter Meetings fielding trade offers for Dickey, who commanded interest from at least a half-dozen teams. Those who did not land Greinke, Shields or any of this year's other top available pitchers -- the Rangers and Blue Jays, for example -- may soon increase their aggressiveness in pursuit of the knuckleballer.

The Mets could also forego a trade or extension completely, and simply bring their ace back on his $5 million option for next season. But Dickey said Tuesday that doing so would essentially place a ticking clock on his time in Flushing, destroying goodwill between the two sides.

"It would be unfortunate, because it probably is going to mean I'm not going to be back," Dickey said. "And that would be sad."

Alderson, for his part, said he expects a resolution "relatively soon," though he "wouldn't try to handicap anything at this point."

"There has been a little bit of a disappointment for me because of the pace, but that's not a comment on anybody except for my patience," Dickey said. "I want some closure to this so we can move on and see what's next. But that's not the nature of what's going on here, and I've got to understand that. Negotiations are not going to happen based on my emotional scope."

For now, Dickey said, he will continue to wait and see how talks unfold. His first choice remains a long-term extension with the Mets, the organization that gave him his most significant break as a professional.

"That's not the company line -- I really feel a real connection to this place," Dickey said. "But at the same time, you don't want to be taken advantage of."




Right-hander R.A. Dickey frustrated deal isn't done with Mets | MLB-com: News

Outfielder Shane Victorino is set to officially join the Red Sox on Thursday in a noon ET press conference at Fenway Park.

The 32-year-old gives the Sox a center-field-caliber right fielder: He comes to the Sox with three Gold Gloves and a three-year deal for $39 million.

"ALOHA look forward to addressing #RedSox Nation," Victorino wrote on his Twitter account Wednesday night. The press conference will be streamed live on MLB.com and redsox.com

Victorino's spent the entirety of his nine-year career in the National League and has a career .275/.341/.430 line.

Meanwhile, another hitter the Sox agreed to terms with at the Winter Meetings, first baseman Mike Napoli, is still in the wind. Boston appeared to have reached a deal with Napoli a day earlier than it did Victorino -- but the former still has not been introduced. Napoli was reported to have had his physical Monday, and it's possible something negative arose in the evaluation.

General manager Ben Cherington didn't acknowledge the Napoli signing at the time it broke.

"We've made some progress and he's a guy who gets on base, has power and could be a good fit for our ballpark," Cherington said in Nashville, Tenn., where the Winter Meetings were held.

Napoli, like Victorino, was believed to have a three-year, $39 million contract.

The Angels have done it again.

For a second straight offseason, they've stolen thunder from the cross-town Dodgers, plucked players from the division-rival Rangers and set themselves up for World Series contention with a bold move nobody saw coming.

On Thursday, 370 days after signing Albert Pujols to a 10-year, $240 million contract, the Angels stunned the baseball landscape by landing free-agent outfielder Josh Hamilton with a five-year, $125 million deal, sources told MLB.com.

Hamilton, one of baseball's best all-around players, joins a lineup that includes Pujols and Mike Trout, gives Anaheim the flexibility to trade for a necessary starting pitcher and, most importantly, puts the Angels in prime position to snap a three-year playoff drought.

"It's a huge signing; huge addition to the lineup," said outfielder Mark Trumbo, whose name will no doubt be brought up in trade rumors because of it. "His numbers pretty much speak for themselves. Phenomenal athlete, and I think it can only serve to bolster an already-strong team."

Since the contract isn't official yet, the Angels didn't speak about it publicly, saying via statement: "As per team policy and MLB rules, the Angels will not comment on the status of any contract negotiations with players. With that said, we continue to look for ways to improve our team. As soon as we have something formal to announce, we will do so."

The Angels went into the offseason unwilling to go higher than $145 million on the 2013 payroll.

Dipoto then balked at Zack Greinke's contractual demands on Day 1 of the Winter Meetings, then pushed the payroll to about $140 million by acquiring two starters (Tommy Hanson and Joe Blanton) and two back-end relievers (Ryan Madson and Sean Burnett), providing the impression that he was done making big free-agent signings.

"Sometimes," Angels general manager Dipoto said last Thursday, "the smartest thing you can do is just make practical decisions."

But Angels owner Arte Moreno agreed to stretch the Angels' 2013 payroll to a franchise record of about $160 million for Hamilton.

There were three key benefits to it:

1. It makes cost-controlled Angels outfielders like Peter Bourjos and/or Trumbo, and perhaps even designated hitter Kendrys Morales, expendable. Dipoto could use that flexibility to add another starter pitcher -- like knuckleballer R.A. Dickey of the Mets, or perhaps Jeremy Hellickson of the Rays, or Ricky Nolasco of the Marlins -- to a currently mediocre staff.

2. It counters the big-ticket moves made by the crosstown-rival Dodgers, who are fresh off signing Greinke to a six-year, $147 million contract that the Angels were at one point unwilling to offer. Like the Dodgers, the Angels recently landed a lucrative new media deal.

3. It further cripples the division-rival Rangers, who lost out on trading for James Shields, sent from the Rays to the Royals; seemingly won't be able to add D-backs right fielder Justin Upton; and now can't bring back Hamilton. Adding Hamilton comes one offseason after the Angels signed C.J. Wilson, the Rangers' former ace, to a five-year, $77.5 million deal.

"Really excited to dust off the Xbox controllers for the next few years on the road," Wilson wrote on his Twitter account, @str8edgeracer. "It's a great day to be an Angel/Angel fan!"

Speaking to Rangers reporters at a media luncheon on Thursday, Rangers general manager Jon Daniels said Hamilton never gave his former club a chance to match the Angels' offer.

"Our full expectation was that the phone call was going to be before he signed, certainly not after and giving us an idea," Daniels told local reporters. "Josh had indicated recently, last week, he told us he felt it might be time to move on, but that we were still talking. I'm not going to get in to the reason, technically, why. I thought we had additional conversations this week that had moved it along in a positive direction. Apparently not."

The 31-year-old Hamilton won the American League's Most Valuable Player Award in 2010 and has long been considered one of baseball's best all-around players, hitting .313 while averaging 33 homers and 107 RBIs the last three seasons.

Now, his left-handed bat seemingly fits perfectly behind Pujols in the cleanup spot, giving the Angels one of the deepest-looking lineups in baseball. Add that to a bullpen that's much improved, and a rotation that could get better if the right deal is struck for a starter, and the Angels suddenly look a lot more poised to end their drought of three straight playoff absences.

"Wow," Trout simply wrote on his Twitter account, @Trouty20 -- and everyone knew what he was referring to.

But Hamilton also comes with baggage, questions and concerns. He was the Rays' No. 1 overall Draft choice in 1999, but drugs and alcohol, in addition to a few injuries, derailed his career two years later. He failed his first drug test in '03, took the rest of the season off, didn't play for almost four full years and was taken in the '06 Rule 5 Draft by the Cubs, who quickly flipped him to the Reds.

Hamilton eventually got sober and finally lived up to the hype, in the process writing one of baseball's greatest comeback stories. He posted a .292/.368/.554 slash line in 90 games with the Reds in '07, as a 26-year-old rookie, then was traded to the Rangers, catapulting him to five straight All-Star Game appearances and elite-level status.

Hamilton struggled mightily in the second half of 2012, which ended amid a chorus of boos in what would be his final game in Arlington. But he still finished the season batting .285 with 43 homers, 128 RBIs and a .930 OPS, giving him his third Silver Slugger and placing him fifth in AL MVP voting.

"I've always wanted to stay here -- they understand that and they know that," Hamilton said of Texas after losing in a one-game playoff to the Orioles. "When we talked earlier in the year, we didn't get things worked out, so we said we'd

The future looked extremely bright for Matt Bush when he was selected as the No. 1 overall pick by the San Diego Padres in the 2004 draft.

Eight and a half years later, it appears Bush's immediate future is prison.

Bush, a shortstop turned pitcher who never played above Class AA in the minor leagues, will accept a plea deal from the state of Florida for a DUI hit-and-run case, reports the Tampa Bay Times. Bush's father, Daniel, said it will involve a prison sentence of at least three years, not including the time already served.

Bush has been in Charlotte County (Fla.) jail since his arrest on March, where police said he hit the motorcycle of 72-year-old Tony Tufano and fled the scene. Police reported that Bush had a blood alcohol percentage of .180, more than double the level at which Florida considers a driver impaired.

Bush's attorney, Russell Kirshy declined to offer specifics on the agreement to the Tampa Bay Times, at least until Tuesday's court hearing.

When Bush was taken with the No. 1 pick in the 2004 draft, he became the first shortstop drafted first overall from high school since the Seattle Mariners took Alex Rodriguez in 1993. The Padres converted Bush to a pitcher in 2007, after hitting struggles in the lower level of the minors.

Injuries and off-the-field issues also plagued Bush, who was traded to the Toronto Blue Jays in early 2009. After an altercation at a party in Florida in March of 2009, the Blue Jays released Bush.

On January 28, 2010, Bush signed a minor league contract with the Tampa Bay Rays, where he played for their Class A and AA affiliates in 2010 and 2011 respectively. The Rays released Bush in October.

Earlier this year, Sports Illustrated ranked Bush as the biggest bust among No. 1 overall picks in baseball history.





Former top MLB draft pick likely headed to prison soon

If you were stunned to see the Angels swoop in at the last minute and sign Josh Hamilton, you weren't alone.

Hamilton was, too.

"Of course I was surprised," Hamilton said about the Angels' late pursuit at his introductory news conference Saturday.

"They like to get after it; they like to get things done."

With Hamilton, the Angels got it done in a manner no other team, especially his most recent one, would. In the process, they took a sizable risk on a gifted outfielder with a checkered past, signing the former MVP to a five-year, $125 million contract that is back-loaded, includes a full no-trade clause and offers no special language that protects the Angels in case of a relapse.

But they've also added a player who gives skipper Mike Scioscia one of baseball's deepest lineups in 2013, gives general manager Jerry Dipoto the opportunity to trade for a necessary starting pitcher and gives owner Arte Moreno a legit chance to win his first title since taking over in '03.

"To get an opportunity to have one of the best players in baseball and put him on our team," Moreno said, "I thought it was a great investment."

Hamilton showed up at the ESPN Zone in Downtown Disney a little before noon PT on Saturday, first to greet the 500 Angels fans who were anxiously gathered outside and then to address the media at a makeshift podium.

With his wife, Katie, seated next to him and his four daughters -- Julia, Sierra, Michaela and Stella -- in the audience, Hamilton spoke about teaming with Albert Pujols and Mike Trout, about following his faith to Southern California and about saying goodbye to the Angels' division rivals.

"It's really cool when a new chapter in your life begins," the 31-year-old slugger said, "and this is exciting."

At the end of his 2012 campaign, a Wild Card loss to the Orioles that capped a late-season collapse, Hamilton openly said he'd give the Rangers the first crack at signing him. Asked about them not taking it, Hamilton said, "I'd be lying to you if I said it didn't bother me a little bit, that they didn't put the press on."

Then he deferred to his wife, who had a much better way of characterizing it.

"If you're going to date somebody and that's going to be your man or your woman, then you make it official and make it known or pretty quick, or at some point, that you want to be with them," Katie said.

"They let us go out and date people and kind of give our hearts away."

Then Hamilton chimed in: "She said, 'You should've put a ring on it.'"

Initial contact by the Angels was made on Dec. 4, Day 2 of the Winter Meetings, when Dipoto and assistant GM Scott Servais had a two-hour lunch with Hamilton, Katie, and his two agents, Mike Moye and Scott Sanderson, in Nashville, Tenn.

"It's been a steady line of communication since, obviously ramping up these last three or four days," said Dipoto, who one day earlier had decided he was not going to meet the contractual demands of Zack Greinke.

Six days later, while on their way to New York, Moreno, his wife, Carole, and president John Carpino made a pit stop in Westlake, Texas, to meet with Hamilton for more than four hours.

The Angels wanted to get it done then, but Hamilton needed time.

"We went in knowing who he was as a player, because everybody knows who he is as a player, and we were trying to get to know him as a person," Carpino said. "We walked away just overly impressed with him."

By Wednesday afternoon, the Angels had decided to kick in a fifth year when no other club was really willing to get into hard numbers. Hamilton was pressed to make a decision quickly.

And by 6 p.m., he agreed.

"I'm not real patient," Moreno said. "Once I put years and money, it really exposes us. So I just asked, 'Is this deal going to get shopped?'"

It didn't get shopped. Hamilton accepted, before the Rangers had a chance to match it. And almost immediately after news broke of Hamilton's deal Thursday, he got a text message from Pujols, who one year earlier signed a $240 million deal that was every bit as surprising as this one.

"I've always loved Albert, and we've talked when playing against each other," Hamilton said. "Just being on the same team is pretty special, not only for just playing, but knowing what a man of faith he is and how much he loves the Lord."

Hamilton was reminded about Pujols' rough start with the Angels, which began with a 27-game homerless streak. Hamilton, with tongue firmly placed in cheek, quipped: "Albert ain't got my pop!"

Over the last five years, Hamilton has proven to be one of the best all-around players in baseball, starting in five straight All-Star Games, taking home three Silver Slugger Awards, and being crowned American League MVP and MVP of the AL Championship Series in 2010, en route to the first of two straight pennants.

During that time, Hamilton ranked 10th in the Majors in batting average (.305) and eighth in OPS (.912). He drove in 130 runs in '08, won the batting title with a .359 clip in '10 and belted a career-high 43 homers in 2012.

But he was also limited to 89 games in '09 due to an assortment of injuries, missed almost all of September the following season because of two fractured ribs and was out for 36 games in early 2011 due to a fractured humerus bone below his shoulder.

Hamilton avoided the disabled list in 2012, playing in 148 games and finishing with solid numbers -- a .285 batting average, 128 RBIs, a .930 OPS and a career high in homers.

But it was a roller coaster.

On Feb. 3, Hamilton publicly apologized for his second alcohol-related relapse since getting clean and first since January 2009. In the first two months, he surged to a .368 batting average and 21 homers, four of which came on one May 8 night in Baltimore. And in the second half, he struggled mightily, striking out 86 times, batting .259, dropping a critical fly ball in the regular-season finale and getting booed in what would be his fina

In one of the most significant gambles in recent franchise history, the Mets have reportedly agreed to trade National League Cy Young Award winner R.A. Dickey to the Blue Jays in a seven-player deal.

FOXSports-com was first to report that the Mets reached agreement Sunday on a trade of Dickey, if he and the Jays can negotiate a contract extension before a 2 p.m. ET deadline Tuesday. The deal will reportedly also send catcher Josh Thole and a prospect to Toronto for catchers Travis d'Arnaud and John Buck, pitching prospect Noah Syndergaard and a third prospect.

Mets and Blue Jays officials did not respond to messages seeking comment; a Mets spokesman said that the process was ongoing.

Should Dickey successfully negotiate an extension, he will become the seventh Cy Young Award winner to open the following season with a new team and the fourth to leave via trade. The most recent example came more than a decade ago, when the Jays shipped Roger Clemens to the Yankees prior to the 1999 season.

"It's a huge decision," manager Terry Collins said earlier this month. "There's a lot of things to consider -- your fan base, the team. But if you do something like that, it's for the benefit of the organization in the long term."

The Mets have now parted ways with the NL's reigning batting champion and Cy Young Award winner in consecutive offseasons. For the former, Jose Reyes, they received two Draft picks. For the latter, they are about to receive a significant haul of impact players.

D'Arnaud, 23, has long ranked among the top young talents in baseball, clocking in at No. 11 on MLB-com's 2012 Prospect Watch. He is used to this sort of deal; the Jays acquired him from the Phillies in 2009 for another Cy Young Award winner, Roy Halladay. Batting .333 with 16 homers in 67 games at Triple-A Las Vegas, d'Arnaud might have made his Major League debut already had he not torn a left knee ligament in June, ending his season.

To replace Thole, the Mets acquired Buck, 32, who has seen his production tail off significantly since bashing a career-high 20 homers with the Jays in 2010. He played last season with the Marlins, but returned to Toronto in the trade that sent Reyes north of the border.

Syndergaard, 20, posted a 2.60 ERA with 122 strikeouts and 31 walks in 103 2/3 innings last season at Class A Lansing. The Jays' third-ranked player on MLB-com's Prospect Watch, he figures to slot into the Mets' rotation at high Class A St. Lucie, putting him on track for a big league debut in late 2014 or early '15. He profiles as a mid- to top-of-the-rotation starter.

But Dickey is already an ace and the Jays, who earlier this offseason acquired Reyes, Buck, Josh Johnson, Mark Buehrle and Emilio Bonifacio in a megadeal with the Marlins, are now close to teaming them with the reigning NL Cy Young Award winner. Dickey finished 20-6 with a 2.73 ERA in 2012, leading the NL in innings, strikeouts, complete games and shutouts.

He also published his autobiography in March, detailing a story that by now is well-known. A former first-round Draft pick of the Rangers, Dickey saw his bonus money slashed when doctors discovered that he had no ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow. Thus began a decade-long slog through the Minor Leagues, prompting Dickey to become a full-time knuckleballer in 2005 in a last-ditch effort to save his career.

Five years later, after the Mets signed him to a Minor League deal and made him the first player cut from big league camp, Dickey caught his break. He joined the rotation in mid-May and never looked back, posting a 2.84 ERA over 27 appearances. At the end of the season, the Mets inked him to a two-year, $7 million extension with a $5 million option for 2013.

Dickey and the Mets attempted to negotiate another contract extension this winter, but Alderson always kept one eye trained on the trade market. The Rangers and Blue Jays in particular seemed to be natural fits for Dickey given the profiles of their farm systems, while at least a half-dozen other clubs checked on his availability.

"R.A. really does want to be with the Mets, but he doesn't want to be here if being here is not the best thing for the club," Dickey's agent, Bo McKinnis, said earlier this month. "If it would open more opportunities for them, we'd accept that trade."

With Dickey reportedly a step away from finalizing it, the Mets now have a significant hole in what was formerly one of the league's best rotations. Consensus at the Winter Meetings was that the team would not immediately plug that hole with top prospect Zack Wheeler, who owns just one year of experience above Class A ball. Instead, the Mets will likely turn to 23-year-old Jenrry Mejia, unless they acquire another starting pitcher on the free-agent market.

By season's end, the Mets could be looking at a rotation including Wheeler, Matt Harvey, Jon Niese and Dillon Gee, the nucleus of a starting five for years to come.


R.A. Dickey swap between Mets, Blue Jays set pending extension agreement | MLB-com: News

As the Dodgers continue talks with Fox Sports and Time Warner Cable over a television contract that could be worth at least $6 billion, the team also has opened discussions with Major League Baseball over the revenue-sharing implications of any such deal.

Mark Walter, the Dodgers' controlling owner, has been personally involved in the discussions with MLB, according to two people familiar with the matter but not authorized to comment on it.

In engaging in the discussions, the Dodgers hope to avoid a U.S. Bankruptcy Court showdown with MLB. As part of the settlement under which Frank McCourt agreed to sell the Dodgers, the court -- and not MLB -- has the final say over distribution of the team's television revenue, according to people briefed on the settlement terms.

The Dodgers have not agreed to the terms of a deal with either Fox or TWC, the people said.

The discussions with MLB center on whether all of the Dodgers' guaranteed television revenue should be subject to baseball's revenue-sharing program. The league believes -- and there are indications the court might agree -- that the Dodgers must take some element of risk with any money not subject to revenue sharing.

In the settlement, MLB agrees that an annual rights fee of $84 million -- plus a 4% increase each year -- reflects fair market value, according to the people briefed on the settlement terms. Those were the essential terms of the proposed Fox contract rejected last year by Commissioner Bud Selig.

The Dodgers must contribute 34% of the annual rights fee to baseball's revenue-sharing program. The team plans to launch its own regional sports network, in part to avoid the prospect of Fox or TWC paying a much higher rights fee.

One concept, as reported last week by Forbes: The Dodgers and Fox join forces on an RSN that would pay the team the $84 million annual rights fee -- plus the prescribed annual increase -- as well as a guaranteed annual dividend of $100 million. Over the life of a 25-year contract, the Dodgers could keep another $1 billion that otherwise would be diverted to revenue sharing.

However, in order to get dividends from an RSN, the league believes the team should be required to take the accompanying risk of ownership. The Dodgers are looking at other ways to structure a deal that would shield that money from revenue sharing and satisfy MLB as well.




Dodgers, MLB talking structure of TV deal - latimes-com

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Last week, the ever-stealthy Angels came out of nowhere to sign Josh Hamilton to a five-year deal, ensuring that they would be removing someone from their cluttered outfield and designated hitter picture, presumably in exchange for a starting pitcher. As the Angels had not been in the outfield market prior, and all of the teams who were previously looking at Hamilton remain in it, the whole pasture-market is now in flux.

With Hamilton gone, Nick Swisher and Cody Ross are the only two remaining free agent corner outfielders that have generated significant market interest. Michael Bourn is also available, should a club have room for a center fielder, but for the most part, Hamilton's market looked like those searching for another corner bat.

The Rangers have now lost Hamilton and Mike Napoli from their lineup, putting an awful lot of pressure on healthy seasons from Nelson Cruz and Ian Kinsler, as well as likely second baseman Jurickson Profar. This could push them to move forward and give Swisher a call or might even send them into the trade market.

That's the thing right now, though: no one is quite sure what's next, just that something -- or a whole bunch of things-- are going to happen before the off-season is over. With Hamilton signed, Swisher is the most-attractive option remaining, and there's a good chance he'll milk that for all it's worth. The Indians have been leading the charge on Swisher for a few weeks now, and on Tuesday he'll visit the team, tour Progressive Field, and likely receive an offer. There's no reason for Swisher to just accept, though, given all the other options out there for him. The Rangers, now without Hamilton, need help in an outfield that currently features Nelson Cruz's last contract year, rookie Leonys Martin, and glove-first outfielder Craig Gentry in center, and, as of now, David Murphy in left. The Mariners, who, thanks to a lack of bats, were in a position to do for Hamilton just what the Angels did first, could now be the club that hands Swisher that fifth season he's been waiting for this off-season.

The Red Sox are a long shot, but should something go wrong with the Mike Napoli negotiations -- he hasn't officially signed yet, reportedly due to a problem in his physical -- they might re-enter the already crowded scene in order to get Swisher for first base. The Phillies might be loathe to give up the earliest draft pick they've had since they selected Cole Hamels #17 overall in 2002, but they could use the sure thing in an outfield that currently has only Ben Revere, Dom Brown, and Darin Ruf. The Orioles could similarly use an upgrade either in the outfield or at first base, especially since they seem to be failing to secure additional pitching.

Swisher could help all of those clubs, and likely for much if not all of the duration of a four- or five-year deal. He's a very patient and disciplined hitter who draws walks, hits some homers, and plays enough defense to get by. As a switch-hitting outfielder and first baseman, he also gives clubs versatility and flexibility. He could very well pull in something like four years and $60 million, or maybe even five years at $75 million, depending on the team and its level of desperation. That might limit his market, but everyone still looking at him can seemingly afford to spend that.

The clubs that lose out on Swisher will be forced to look either at internal options or someone like Cody Ross or Scott Hairston. They're very similar players, though, you wouldn't know it given how much more often Ross's name shows up in rumors. Both mash lefties and can play center in a pinch, but you're better off if that pinch never occurs. Neither is particularly patient or draws many walks, so their value is tied up in how much power they can produce.

Hairston will be 33 in 2013, while Ross will be 32, and while neither will cost their new club a draft pick in next summer's draft, neither of them is as complete of a player as Swisher, either. They can be inked to short-term deals, though, and there's value in that. But there's definitely a get what you pay for vibe surrounding the non-Swisher outfield market.

If it's not one of these players that sates their needs, the above clubs, as well as others, are going to start looking at the trade market. Jacoby Ellsbury is a tough player to figure out, as he didn't seem healthy to close out 2012 after dislocating his shoulder in an April collision. However, he was an MVP-caliber player in 2011, and because of the potential for a repeat performance he has the most upside of all of the outfielders available whether through signings or trades, especially since his glove and bat can be slotted into a corner, unlike that of free agent Bourn.

Ellsbury also has a significant number of questions surrounding him, though, pertaining to whether he's going to be closer to his career rates, where he's been a bit above-average at the plate and well-above defensively, or if he's even going to be healthy by the time his last year of team control runs out following 2013.

There's also the question of just how much the Red Sox are going to expect back for him: they could easily just sit on Ellsbury all year long, enjoy his 2013 season as they try to compete, and then take the compensation pick at year's end when he bolts. Alternatively, if Boston's season doesn't go well, they can try to move Ellsbury in July, before the trade deadline, to a club willing to give them more than a single sandwich-round pick's-worth of return.

This isn't an R.A. Dickey situation, where a high price can be demanded by a team convinced they aren't competing for a couple of years. Because Boston expects to be relevant in the upcoming season, the Red Sox are likely to ask for a lot in exchange for the one year of Ellsbury, even given his down 2012, reducing his chances of going anywhere. What the Red Sox have in their favor, though, is that if anyone is desperate enough to make a trade,

The Cubs aren't finished shopping for pitching and are reportedly pursuing free agents Edwin Jackson and Carlos Villanueva.

The Cubs lost out in their bid for Anibal Sanchez, who rejected a five-year, $77 million offer and signed with the Tigers for $80 million. Now Chicago is apparently taking aim at Jackson, 29, who was reportedly seeking a three- to four-year contract after making $11 million last season with the Nationals.

The Padres were among the teams believed to be in the mix for Jackson, but there were reports Wednesday that they would not offer more than a three-year deal.

Jackson went 10-11 last season and compiled a 4.03 ERA in 31 starts. In his career, he's 14-9 with a 3.95 ERA in 38 games (36 starts) against the National League Central.

The Cubs already have added free-agent pitchers Scott Feldman and Scott Baker, signing both to one-year contracts. But the team wants more depth, especially if Baker and Matt Garza are not ready. Baker is coming back from Tommy John surgery and Garza has just started throwing for the first time since July 21. He was shut down then because of a right elbow injury.

On Wednesday, Jon Heyman of CBSSports-com and MLB Network reported that the Cubs had signed Villanueva. However, a source told MLB-com that the two sides were still finalizing details and no deal was done. Villanueva, 29, made 16 starts and 22 relief appearances last season for the Blue Jays, compiling a 4.16 ERA over 125 1/3 innings.

The right-hander, who made $2,277,500 in 2012, has pitched for the Brewers and Blue Jays, making 29 starts in the last two seasons with Toronto. In his career as a starter, he is 16-22 with a 4.80 ERA in 56 games.


Cubs eyeing pitchers Edwin Jackson, Carlos Villanueva | MLB-com: News

The Rangers reached an agreement with catcher A.J. Pierzynski on a one-year contract worth $7.5 million on Thursday, according to a source. An announcement is expected Friday after Pierzynski undergoes a physical in Arlington.

Pierzynski comes in with a chance to be the Rangers' No. 1 catcher or form a platoon with Geovany Soto. But this signing addresses maybe the biggest concern about the lineup after Texas lost Mike Napoli to free agency this offseason.

Pierzynski, who turns 36 on Dec. 30, hit .278 with 27 home runs and 77 RBIs in 135 games for the White Sox in 2012. His .501 slugging percentage and his .827 OPS were the highest in 12 full seasons with the Twins, Giants and White Sox. He was the starting catcher on the White Sox 2005 World Series championship team and is a career .300 hitter in postseason play.

Texas catchers hit a combined .228 in 2012 with a .397 slugging percentage. Both numbers ranked eighth in the American League after the club led both categories at that position in 2011.

Soto, a right-handed hitter, batted .198 with 11 home runs and 33 RBIs in 99 games for the Rangers and the Cubs this season. He could end up in a platoon with Pierzynski, who is a left-handed hitter.

Pierzynski had some ill feelings toward Rangers manager Ron Washington last July when he was left off the All-Star team. But the exchange also showed how Washington feels about Pierzynski as a player. After the AL All-Star team was announced, Washington said he felt bad that Pierzynski wasn't selected.

"The guy's having an outstanding year," Washington said. "He's been working with a very good pitching staff over there with those Chicago White Sox for many years. I consider him a winning player because he beats you any kind of way he can. He beats you mentally, he beats you physically. So I feel really bad for Pierzynski."

Pierzynski, who has been known to be outspoken, replied by saying, "If he felt that bad, he would have put me on the team. He had an opportunity to and he didn't do it. Obviously, he can feel as bad as he wants, but he didn't feel that bad."

Pierzynski threw out 20 percent of attempted basestealers this season. He has thrown out 18.7 percent in his career, which ranks 26th out of 27 active catchers with at least 480 games caught.



Veteran catcher A.J. Pierzynski joins Rangers with one-year contract | MLB-com: News

Catcher A.J. Pierzynski has passed his physical, according to sources, but the Rangers are not expected to make an announcement on his signing until after Christmas.

The Rangers have a full 40-man roster after claiming pitcher Jeff Beliveau off waivers from the Cubs on Friday. The Rangers need to make a move to create space on the roster for Pierzynski but are on hold because Major League Baseball's central office is closed for the holidays.

The Rangers were not expecting any physical problems with Pierzynski, who agreed to a one-year, $7.5 million contract as a free agent on Thursday. Pierzynski has played in at least 125 games in each of the past 11 seasons. He has been on the disabled list just once in his career, missing two weeks for a fractured left wrist in August 2011.

Pierzynski comes in with a chance to be the Rangers' No. 1 catcher or form a platoon with Geovany Soto. But this signing addresses maybe the biggest concern about the lineup after Texas lost Mike Napoli to free agency this offseason.

Pierzynski, who turns 36 on Dec. 30, hit .278 with 27 home runs and 77 RBIs in 135 games for the White Sox in 2012. His .501 slugging percentage and his .827 OPS were the highest in 12 full seasons with the Twins, Giants and White Sox. He was the starting catcher on the White Sox 2005 World Series championship team and is a career .300 hitter in postseason play.

Texas catchers hit a combined .228 in 2012 with a .397 slugging percentage. Both numbers ranked eighth in the American League after the club led both categories at that position in 2011.

Soto, a right-handed hitter, batted .198 with 11 home runs and 33 RBIs in 99 games for the Rangers and Cubs last season.

Pierzynski had some ill feelings toward Rangers manager Ron Washington last July when he was left off the All-Star team. But the exchange also showed how Washington feels about Pierzynski as a player. After the AL All-Star team was announced, Washington said he felt bad that Pierzynski wasn't selected.

"The guy's having an outstanding year," Washington said. "He's been working with a very good pitching staff over there with those Chicago White Sox for many years. I consider him a winning player because he beats you any kind of way he can. He beats you mentally, he beats you physically. So I feel really bad for Pierzynski."

Pierzynski, who has been known to be outspoken, replied by saying: "If he felt that bad, he would have put me on the team. He had an opportunity to and he didn't do it. Obviously, he can feel as bad as he wants, but he didn't feel that bad."

Washington was among the Rangers officials who had lunch with Pierzynski and his representatives on Tuesday in Arlington. The All-Star snub is not expected to be a problem between the two.

Pierzynski threw out 20 percent of attempted base stealers this season. He has thrown out 18.7 percent in his career, which ranks 26th out of 27 active catchers with at least 480 games caught.



A.J. Pierzynski passes physical day after agreeing with Rangers | MLB-com: News

Ryan Freel, who played for five MLB teams between 2001 and 2009, has committed suicide at age 36, according to multiple reports. Sgt. Mike Paul of the Jacksonville (Fla.) Sheriff’s Office confirmed to The Florida Times-Union that Freel, a Jacksonville native, was found dead from a self-inflicted shotgun wound Saturday at his home around 4 p.m. local time.

Paul confirmed to the newspaper that authorities were treating the death as a suicide.

Freel, a utilityman who played outfield, second base and third base, spent most of his MLB career (six seasons) with the Cincinnati Reds. He also played for the Toronto Blue Jays, Baltimore Orioles, Chicago Cubs and Kansas City Royals. He was drafted by the Blue Jays in 10th round of the 1995 draft. He stole over 35 bases in three straight seasons with the Reds from 2004-06.

First Coast News, a Florida television network, first reported Freel's suicide.

R.I.P. Ryan Freel.

John Maine, who hasn't pitched in the big leagues in two years, will get a chance to revive his career with the Marlins, who have signed the 31-year-old to a Minor League contract with an invitation to Spring Training.

Maine spent five of his seven seasons with the Mets; his last stint was in 2010.

In 108 career games, the 6-foot-4 right-hander is 41-36 with a 4.35 ERA.

His best season was in 2007, when we went 15-10 with a 3.91 ERA in 32 starts for New York.

A sixth-round pick of the Orioles in 2002, Maine pitched in parts of two seasons with Baltimore (2004-05).

In 2012 he went 8-5 with a 4.97 ERA in 16 games (15 starts) for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (Yankees).

Miami has been looking for starting pitching with previous big league experience.

One can only assume Santa Claus is a big baseball fan, what with all that North Pole downtime in the summer months.

And if Ole St. Nick really is as jolly and generous as we've been led to believe, perhaps he wouldn't mind perusing the holiday wish lists of Major League Baseball's 30 teams and come through in the clutch.

What follows is a rundown of each team's remaining needs ... some more serious than others:

Angels: Let's face it, an Angels team on the hook to pay Josh Hamilton, Albert Pujols, Jered Weaver and C.J. Wilson nearly $100 million in 2016 (when their average age will be 34.8) is probably better off not focusing too far into the future. But with the bulk of the offseason activity taken care of, this might be a good time to deliver a long-term extension for Mike Trout that works for both parties.

Astros: A copy of the bestselling self-help book, "The American League and You: Coping with Life in the West." Figures to be a tough transition year.

Tigers: Very possible the Tigers are right about Bruce Rondon. Nevertheless, it would be easier to feel good about their chances of repeating as American League champs if they had a more experienced option at closer.

Giants: Far be it from me to critique a club that has gotten so many things right the last few years. But it at least seems worth considering that the Giants could use a little more left-field thump. Gregor Blanco made some sensational plays in the postseason, and Andres Torres' return tugs at the 2010 heartstrings, but it's hard to know if either will be particularly productive at the plate.

A's: Other than a new stadium? Well, the atrophy the A's experienced in the starting five over the course of 2012 demonstrates that you can never have enough help in the starting-pitching department, and it might behoove the A's to find a veteran innings-eater to take a spot.

Rays: Other than a new stadium? They could still use another bat. Or failing that, a fast forward button on Wil Myers' development.

Nationals: Earmuffs for general manager Mike Rizzo. Because if Stephen Strasburg gets hurt this season, after his controversial early shutdown in 2012, the poor guy will never hear the end of it.

Reds: Their primary need (think Mariah Carey singing "All I Want For Christmas Is Choo") is already taken care of. But how about a handbook from the White Sox on how Chris Sale went from 71 innings in 2011 to 192 in 2012? Because for a clear contender like Cincinnati, a Strasburg-like plan for Aroldis Chapman seems a poor course of action.

Rangers: A worthy lineup replacement for Hamilton. There are a lot of those available out there, right?

D-backs: A phone call from the Rangers, with the perfect offer for Justin Upton.

Blue Jays: What do you get the team that suddenly has everything? How about new printers for the payroll department? Frankly, the old ones aren't used to printing the kind of numbers that are going to be on those 2013 checks. Toronto might need new printers for the previously defunct playoff ticket department, as well.

Marlins: Nametags might be helpful to new manager Mike Redmond as he gets acquainted with this inordinately young club. And perhaps some flowers and chocolates for Giancarlo Stanton, to smooth things over.

Rockies: Nothing would impact this organization quite like a hypnotist who can convince those Rockies pitchers that they are not hurling at mile-high altitudes at home.

Padres: Same thing they've needed for months: starting pitching. Tigers right-hander Rick Porcello is a worthwhile target.

Cubs: They've aligned some nice pieces for their rotation, but they still need young bodies in waves. Would be nice if somebody would come calling for Alfonso Soriano.

Pirates: After a second-half slide in 2011, manager Clint Hurdle ordered up T-shirts that said, "Finish!" for 2012. New T-shirt for 2013: "No, really. Finish!"

Brewers: The more relief options, the better. Had the bullpen been even remotely effective in the first half last year, this could have been a playoff club.

Twins: They've already added four starting pitchers this winter. Five if you count Rich Harden. Still think this is a really good time to explore the trade market for Justin Morneau or Josh Willingham and keep stockpiling the system.

Cardinals: They can go as is, or, more helpfully, they can land another middle-infield option, especially with Rafael Furcal in the final year of his contract. In a perfect world, Asdrubal Cabrera would be delivered to their doorstep. In the real world, the Indians' asking price for him is steep.

Mets: Great haul in the R.A. Dickey trade. But if there are any other Minor League free-agent options out there who are ready to blossom into Cy Young winners, would you mind reporting to Flushing?

White Sox: With A.J. Pierzynski officially gone, they need a new option to win those "most hated players in baseball" polls. Somehow don't think Paul Konerko's going to take that honor. More pressingly, they need a left-handed bat. Maybe they sell high on Alex Rios to get it.

Orioles: Any time Buck Showalter is involved, it's tempting to make a joke about the need for cotton uniforms. But more than cushy comfort, the O's need a power bat. The hesitancy to fork over Draft-pick compensation for a guy like Adam LaRoche is understandable, but the pickings are slim out there.

Braves: Even after adding B.J. Upton, they still need a leadoff-type bat for their outfield. The Rox's Dexter Fowler would sure fit the bill.

Red Sox: Hard to know what to make of the Red Sox's costly (and aging) free-agent haul, to this point. The gut tells me they still need at least one more reliable starting-pitching option if they're going to significantly improve on last year's 76-win output.

Royals: They're better. And they gave up a lot, in terms of money and prospects, to get better. But to truly reach their potential, they need a healthy shoulder and a clear head for Eric Hos