The Milwaukee Brewers agreed to terms with free-agent third baseman Aramis Ramirez, agent Paul Kinzer said Monday.
Ramirez will provide a much-needed big bat for the Brewers, who are expected to lose first baseman Prince Fielder through free agency and may be without National League MVP Ryan Braun for the first 50 games of next season if he loses his appeal for testing positive for a banned substance.
Kinzer said Ramirez expects the Brewers to be a contender next season, a critical factor in his decision.
“That was (part) of his criteria,” Kinzer said. “There were about four teams that he liked that were contenders, and Milwaukee was at the top of his list.”
Ramirez, 33, played 149 games for the NL Central rival Chicago Cubs last year, batted .306 with 26 home runs and 93 RBI.
Milwaukee traded infielder Casey McGehee to Pittsburgh for reliever Jose Veras.
BASEBALL BUSINESS
A judge in Dover, Del., says Fox Sports may get to question Major League Baseball executive Rob Manfred as it tries to bolster its arguments to have the Los Angeles Dodgers bankruptcy dismissed. … Mets owners recently got a $40 million loan from a major bank to help with cash flow, a year after getting a $25 million loan from Major League Baseball. The team called it a “bridge loan” to help while it seeks to sell minority shares of the club.
SIGNINGS AND SUCH
Seattle did not tender offers to right-hander Dan Cortes and catcher Chris Gomez. … Oakland agreed to one-year contracts with infielders Daric Barton and Adam Rosales and catcher Landon Powell, and tendered contracts to all unsigned players on their 40-man roster. … The Angels re-signed right-hander Jerome Williams to a one-year deal. … The Astros signed catcher Humberto Quintero to a one-year, $1 million contract. … The Cardinals and shortstop Rafael Furcal agreed to a $14 million, two-year deal. … The Dodgers signed outfielder Tony Gwynn Jr. to a $2 million, two-year contract. … The Mets signed former Mariners left-hander Garrett Olson to minor league deal. … The Rockies agreed to a two-year deal with catcher Ramon Hernandez. … The Phillies traded outfielder Ben Francisco to the Blue Jays for a minor leaguer.
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