MLB notebook: Ty Wigginton, Cardinals agree to two-year deal
BY Associated Press
Saturday, December 15, 2012
12/15/12 at 5:26 AM
Free agent infielder Ty Wigginton and the St. Louis Cardinals have agreed to a $5 million, two-year contract.
General manager John Mozeliak announced the agreement Friday and said Wigginton gives the Cardinals a right-handed bat "with punch."
The 35-year-old Wigginton, who will make $2.5 million annually, has hit 15 or more homers six times during 11 big league seasons. He had 22 in 2010, when he was an All-Star with Baltimore.
Tigers, Sanchez reportedly agree to 5-year deal: The Detroit Tigers have made another major move to help their quest to win a World Series for the first time since 1984.
Right-handed pitcher Anibal Sanchez agreed to an $80 million, five-year contract with the Tigers, a person familiar with the deal told The Associated Press on Friday. The person, speaking on condition of anonymity because the agreement hasn't been finalized, said Sanchez is scheduled for a physical Monday.
Sanchez was a part of Detroit's four-man rotation that led the franchise to World Series this year. He had a 1.77 ERA in 201/3 innings over three postseason starts, but was 1-2 because Detroit was shut out in each of his losses.
"He was big for us in the playoffs; I just wish we scored a couple more runs for him and for our team," Tigers catcher Alex Avila said in a telephone interview with The Associated Press. "He's a big-time pitcher."
Source says Suzuki, Yankees close to deal: Ichiro Suzuki and the New York Yankees closed in Friday on a $13 million, two-year contract, according to a person familiar with the negotiations.
The sides still had to finalize language and the deal will be subject to a physical, the person said, speaking on condition of anonymity because the agreement was not complete. Suzuki will get $6.5 million a year.
Acquired from the Seattle Mariners on July 23, the 39-year-old Suzuki revived his career in New York. His batting average jumped from .261 with the Mariners, to .322 with the Yankees, with five homers, 27 RBIs and 14 steals.
Yanks hit with $18.9M luxury tax: The New York Yankees have been hit with an $18.9 million luxury tax by Major League Baseball, the 10th consecutive year they will pay a penalty for their spending.
The Yankees finished with a $222.5 million payroll for purposes of the tax, according to figures sent to teams Thursday and obtained by The Associated Press.
Following its payroll-shedding trade with the Los Angeles Dodgers last summer, Boston finished just $47,177 under the $178 million threshold. The Los Angeles Angels wound up at $176.7 million and Philadelphia at $174.5 million.
Figures include average annual values of contracts for players on 40-man rosters, adjustments for cash in trades and $10.8 million per team in benefits.
