Santana slugs his way to big deal in Philly
Former Cleveland bopper gets $60M from NL doormats
Two people familiar with the situation say the Phillies and veteran first baseman Carlos Santana have agreed to a three-year, $60-million deal.
The people spoke Friday on condition of anonymity because the agreement is contingent on Santana passing a physical.
The 31-year-old Santana hit 23 home runs and had 79 RBIs with Cleveland last season, where he had spent all eight years of his career. He started as a catcher in 2010 and shifted to first base in 2015.
Santana has a .249 career batting average and .445 slugging percentage.
Philadelphia is looking to boost its offence after finishing last in the NL East at 66-96. Its top slugger last year was third baseman Maikel Franco, who had 24 home runs.
Santana’s departure is a big loss for Cleveland, which won the AL Central last season, but lost a divisional series to the Yankees. In other developments: All-star infielder Zack Cozart has agreed to a $38-million, threeyear contract with the Los Angeles Angels and is likely to shift from shortstop to third base.
Cozart gets $13 million in each of the next two seasons and $12 million in 2020 as part of the deal announced Friday.
The 32-year-old was a first-time all-star last season. He hit .297 with 24 homers and 63 RBIs.
Cozart has a .254 average in seven big-league seasons, all with Cincinnati.
The Colorado Rockies fortified their bullpen by finalizing threeyear deals with right-hander Bryan Shaw and lefty Jake McGee.
The 30-year-old Shaw was 4-6 with three saves and a 3.52 ERA last season with Cleveland. Shaw has the third-most appearances in the majors (475 games) since making his debut in 2011. McGee spent the last two seasons in Colorado after being acquired from Tampa Bay. The 31-year-old was 0-2 with three saves and a 3.61 ERA last season to help the Rockies return to the post-season.
The Minnesota Twins confirmed the signing of right-handed reliever Fernando Rodney to a one-year contract. The deal, which includes a club option for the 2019 season, is worth $4.5 million. Rodney turns 41 on March 18 and will be in his 16th majorleague season.
LARY DIES AT 87
Frank Lary, the star Detroit Tigers pitcher who was called the Yankee Killer because of his success against New York’s bighitting lineup, has died at 87. He died Wednesday after being hospitalized in Tuscaloosa, Ala., with pneumonia, nephew Joe Lary said.
Lary pitched with the Tigers from 1954-64 and led the American League with 21 wins in 1956. A two-time all-star, he won a Gold Glove Award in 1961, when he went 23-9 and finished third in the Cy Young Award voting behind Whitey Ford and Warren Spahn.
Lary got his nickname by going 27-10 against the Yankees from 1955-61, a span during which New York won six pennants. Lary also played for the Mets, Milwaukee Braves and Chicago White Sox.