Major League Baseball

Players sign deals, avoid arbitration

Published Jan. 18, 2011 12:00 a.m. ET

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Of the 119 players who filed for arbitration last Friday, only 37 exchanged proposed salaries with their clubs. Most players have already settled on new deals, including:

• Slugger Prince Fielder and Milwaukee agreed at $15.5 million, the highest one-year contract for an arbitration-eligible player.

• Postseason star Cody Ross and the World Series champion San Francisco Giants agreed to terms on a $6.3 million, one-year contract Tuesday. The deal marks a nice raise for the former kid rodeo clown. Ross earned $4.45 million last season, when he joined the Giants on a waiver claim from Florida on Aug. 22.

• Even though Boston closer Jonathan Papelbon was among those who exchanged figures, he already reached a $12 million agreement with the Red Sox, who also signed center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury. The base salaries are $12 million for Papelbon and $2.4 million for Ellsbury, according to the two people who spoke to The Associated Press on Tuesday.

• Left-hander C.J. Wilson and outfielder Nelson Cruz agreed to one-year contracts with the Texas Rangers on Tuesday, getting significant raises. Wilson, who won 15 games last season when he made the transition from reliever to starter, gets a $7 million deal, up from $3.1 million last season. Cruz receives $3.65 million after making $440,000 last season. Both can earn an extra $150,000 in bonuses.

• Padres closer Heath Bell has agreed to a $7.5 million, one-year contract and four other San Diego players also received deals Tuesday that avoided arbitration. Outfielder Ryan Ludwick will earn $6,775,000, right-handed reliever Mike Adams received a deal for $2,535,000, third baseman Chase Headley gets $2,325,000 and pitcher Tim Stauffer gets $1,075,000.

• Right-handed pitcher Andy Sonnanstine and the Tampa Bay Rays have agreed to a one-year contract worth $912,500. The deal announced Tuesday leaves the defending AL East champions with no remaining arbitration cases. Center fielder B.J. Upton and the Rays agreed Monday to a $4,825,000, one-year deal that makes Upton the highest-paid player on the team.

• The Los Angeles Dodgers and pitcher Chad Billingsley have agreed to a one-year deal worth $6,275,000. Billingsley was 12-11 with a 3.57 ERA last season, when he earned $3.85 million. He made the All-Star team in 2009.

• The Oakland A's agreed to one-year contracts Tuesday with outfielders Josh Willingham and Conor Jackson, starting pitcher Dallas Braden and third baseman Kevin Kouzmanoff. All four players were eligible for salary arbitration. Willingham receives $6 million for the 2011 season, Kouzmanoff $4.75 million, Braden $3.35 million and Jackson $3.2 million.

• The Cleveland Indians agreed to a one-year, $3.975 million contract with their best all-around player, OF Shin-Soo Choo, on Tuesday, extending their streak of staying out of arbitration hearings to 20 years. The Indians haven't gone to a hearing with any players since Jerry Browne and Gregg Swindell in 1991.

• The Arizona Diamondbacks signed shortstop Stephen Drew to a two-year, $13.75 million contract Tuesday. The deal includes a mutual option for a third year at a salary of $10 million. Arizona also signed arbitration-eligible left-hander Joe Saunders to a one-year, $5.5 million contract. In addition, the Diamondbacks signed a pair of free agents: utility man Willie Bloomquist got a one-year, $900,000 contract with a mutual option for 2012, and right-hander Aaron Heilman re-signed with Arizona for one year and $2 million. Arizona still has two players in arbitration — second baseman Kelly Johnson and catcher Miguel Montero.

• The Seattle Mariners have reached one-year deals with a trio of pitchers: closer David Aardsma, reliever Brandon League and left-hander Jason Vargas. The Mariners announced the deals on Tuesday, leaving them with their entire roster under contract for the 2011 season.

• The Philadelphia Phillies and right-handed pitcher Kyle Kendrick, agreeed to a $2.45 million, one-year contract. The Phillies announced the deal on Tuesday. Kendrick's contract includes awards bonuses.

• The Chicago White Sox agreed Tuesday to one-year contracts with left-hander John Danks, outfielder Carlos Quentin and right-hander Tony Pena. Danks will make $6 million, Quentin $5.05 million and Pena $1.6 million. Chicago also claimed right-hander Phil Humber off waivers from the Oakland Athletics.

• The New York Yankees have agreed to one-year contracts with right-handers Phil Hughes and Joba Chamberlain and lefty Boone Logan. Hughes receives $2.7 million for the 2011 season, while Chamberlain will earn $1.4 million and Logan $1.2 million.

• The Minnesota Twins agreed to one-year contracts with a pair of relief pitchers, right-hander Matt Capps for $7.15 million and left-hander Glen Perkins for $700,000.

• Right-handed reliever Joel Hanrahan has agreed to terms on a $1.4 million, one-year contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates.

• Right-hander Mike Pelfrey and the New York Mets have agreed to a one-year contract worth $3.925 million. Pelfrey made $500,000 last year, when he was one of the team's few bright spots by going 15-9 with a 3.66 ERA in 33 starts and one relief appearance.

• The Kansas City Royals and right-hander Kyle Davies have agreed to a $2.3 million, one-year contract.

• The Washington Nationals have agreed to one-year contracts with outfielder Michael Morse and reliever Doug Slaten. Morse agreed to a $1.05 million deal and can make $300,000 in performance bonuses based on plate appearances: $50,000 for 300, $75,000 each for 350 and 400 and $100,000 for 450.

• Reliever Jon Rauch agreed Monday on a one-year contract with the Toronto Blue Jays, and pitchers Shawn Camp, Casey Janssen and Jesse Litsch settled their salary arbitration cases. Rauch, a free agent, got a one-year deal worth $3.75 million. Camp's agreement is for $2.25 million, Janssen's for $1,095,000 and Litsch's for $830,000.

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