The Nationals are heading to spring training with what appears to be one of the deepest starting staffs in the major leagues.
Edwin Jackson agreed Thursday to a one-year contract with Washington, a deal that gives the Nationals seven potential starting pitchers.
“We saw an opportunity here to acquire a young, hard-throwing, power-pitching, innings-eating type of starting pitcher, and we thought it was good value at a good term,” general manager Mike Rizzo said during a telephone conference call.
Washington said the agreement is pending a physical. The deal is worth in the range of $9 million to $12 million.
There are seven candidates for the Nationals’ starting rotation, a group that includes holdovers Stephen Strasburg, Jordan Zimmermann, John Lannan, Chien-Ming Wang and Ross Detwiler, along with Jackson and Gio Gonzalez, acquired from Oakland in December
CLEVELAND REELS IN CASEY KOTCHMAN
The Cleveland Indians may have finally found their new first baseman: Casey Kotchman.
The team agreed to terms on a one-year, $3 million contract with Kotchman, who spent the 2010 season with the Seattle Mariners.
The sources spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal is not expected to be announced until today. Kotchman can make an additional $1.75 million in performance bonuses, one of the persons said.
Kotchman batted a career-best .306 with 10 homers and 48 RBI in a career-high 146 games for Tampa Bay last season.
METS FIND INVESTOR
Even as Steven A. Cohen, the hedge fund manager, pursues a bid for the Los Angeles Dodgers, he is one of the investors expected to buy a piece of the New York Mets for $20 million, said two people who were briefed on the process but were not authorized to speak publicly.
The Mets have been trying to raise $200 million by selling 10 limited partnership units since September when talks collapsed with David Einhorn, also a hedge fund manager.
ETC.
Jeff Niemann and the Rays have gone to salary arbitration, with the pitcher asking for $3.2 million and the team offering $2.75 million.… Left-hander Rafael Perez and the Indians have agreed to a one-year contract worth $2,005,000 and avoided salary arbitration. … Braves right-hander Tommy Hanson said he expects to be ready for the start of spring training. Hanson enjoyed a strong first half of the 2011 season, posting a 10-4 record and 2.44 ERA before he was shut down after a small tear was found in his right rotator cuff that did not require surgery. … Left-hander Casey Fossum has agreed to a minor league contract with the Orioles.
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