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Rays, Floyd Close On One-Year Contract

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Carter Gaddis/The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 15, 2007

TAMPA The Rays and free-agent outfielder Cliff Floyd remained close to consummating a one-year contract Friday, and an announcement of his signing is expected early next week.

There still was minor contract language to work through before the deal is finalized, but nothing that should prevent Floyd from soon becoming the Rays' left-handed bat in a three-way platoon in right field and at designated hitter.

Rays executive vice president Andrew Friedman reiterated his comment from Thursday, when the signing was first reported on ESPN.com. In essence, Friedman said Friday, the team and agents Seth and Sam Levinson continue to work on some of the "finer points" of the contract and that a "positive announcement" could be made next week.

The Associated Press reported Friday that a preliminary agreement had been reached, and that Floyd will make $2.75 million in 2008, with a chance to make up to $2 million in performance bonuses. The AP also reported that the deal includes a team option for the 2009 season at $3 million, with the chance to earn an additional $1.75 million, and a $250,000 buyout.

Floyd, 35, batted .284 with nine home runs and 45 RBIs in 108 games for the Cubs this past season. He was an All-Star for the Marlins in 2001, when he batted a career-best .317 with 31 home runs and a career-best 103 RBIs.

In 15 seasons with Montreal, Florida, Boston, the Mets and Cubs, Floyd is a .279 lifetime hitter with 222 home runs and 826 RBIs, along with a .359 career on-base percentage.

Although Floyd has battled leg injuries for much of his career, the Rays are believed to be satisfied his body can withstand a season of splitting time with right-handed hitting Jonny Gomes and Rocco Baldelli in the outfield and at DH.

Arizona Gets Haren Trades Valverde

The Arizona Diamondbacks acquired All-Star pitcher Dan Haren from Oakland and traded major-league saves leader Jose Valverde to Houston in separate swaps involving 12 players Friday.

Oakland also sent right-hander Connor Robertson to Arizona and received six players: left-handers Brett Anderson, Dana Eveland and Greg Smith; infielder Chris Carter; and outfielders Aaron Cunningham and Carlos Gonzalez.

The NL West champion Diamondbacks got reliever Chad Qualls, infielder Chris Burke and right-hander Juan Gutierrez from the Astros.

Haren, the AL starter in the All-Star Game this year, joins a Diamondbacks rotation that includes 2006 NL Cy Young Award winner Brandon Webb. Arizona also hopes to get Randy Johnson back from injury next year.

"I'm extremely excited," Haren said. "Just having spent a couple of spring trainings in Phoenix, me and my wife really love the town. There's just so much to do, and the team is obviously on the rise - a lot of young guys. It looks like a fun team to be on."

Haren, who was 15-9 with a 3.07 ERA this year, became the first elite starter to switch teams this offseason - which could set off a flurry of moves by other teams in search of pitching.

The Minnesota Twins are listening to trade offers for two-time Cy Young Award winner Johan Santana, who can become a free agent after next season. Baltimore is thought to be shopping lefty Erik Bedard.

With new general manager Ed Wade, the Astros have been one of baseball's busiest teams this fall. They traded five players to Baltimore on Wednesday for star shortstop Miguel Tejada, 10 days after signing free agent second baseman Kaz Matsui to a $16.5 million, three-year contract.

PADRES: Center fielder Mike Cameron won't be coming back to San Diego, his agent said Friday night.

RANGERS: Acquiring help for the bullpen, Texas introduced Japanese reliever Kazuo Fukumori on Friday after the sides agreed to a $3 million, two-year deal that includes a team option for 2010.

The right-hander spent the past 13 seasons in Japan, where he was 34-42 with a 3.72 ERA and 72 saves in 377 games (47 starts). He was exclusively a reliever the last five seasons.

TWINS: Third baseman Mike Lamb and Minnesota agreed to a $6.6 million, two-year contract with an option for 2010.

Lamb hit .289 with 11 homers and 40 RBIs in 124 games with the Houston Astros this season. He has a career batting average of .281 with 68 homers and 313 RBIs.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

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