Source: Brantley agrees to deal with Astros
HOUSTON » Outfielder Michael Brantley has agreed to a $32 million, two-year contract with the Houston Astros, a person familiar with the deal told The Associated Press.
The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity Wednesday because the contract, which is pending a successful physical, had not been announced.
Brantley spent the last two seasons in Houston after playing for Cleveland for his first 10 MLB seasons. Brantley hit .300 with five homers and 22 RBIs in 46 games in last year’s pandemic-shortened season. He had three home runs and 11 RBIs in 13 playoff games last year as the Astros came a win shy of reaching the World Series for the second straight season.
Brantley is a four-time All-Star and a 2014 Silver Slugger award winner. He has a .297 average with 114 homers and 640 RBIs in his career.
Source: Springer to Jays
TORONTO » All-Star outfielder George Springer became the most prominent among baseball’s free agents to reach an agreement this offseason, a $150 million, six-year contract with the Toronto Blue Jays, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press.
It would be the largest contract in team history.
Springer, who turned 31 in September, is a three-time All-Star who has spent his entire seven-season career with Houston and was the World Series MVP when the Astros beat the Dodgers in seven games for their first title in 2017.
Springer hit .265 with 14 homers and 32 RBIs during the shortened 2020 season.
He has a .270 career average with 174 home runs and 458 RBIs, including career bests of .292 with
39 homers and 96 RBIs in 2019. Under new owner Steve Cohen, the New York Mets also were said to be interested in Springer.
• The Blue Jays also agreed to contracts with free agent pitchers
Kirby Yates and Tyler Chatwood, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press.
Yates, a right-hander who turns 34 on March 25, is coming off surgery in August to remove bone chips from his right elbow. He led the major leagues in saves in 2019 with 41 for San Diego.
Chatwood, a 31-year-old righthander, went 2-2 with a 5.30 ERA in five starts with the Cubs last year.
Source: Twins add Happ
MINNEAPOLIS » The Minnesota Twins and veteran starting pitcher J.A. Happ agreed to an
$8 million, one-year contract, according to a person with knowledge of the deal.
Happ, 38, spent the past 21/3 seasons with the Yankees. Acquired from Toronto at the 2018 trade deadline, Happ went 7-0 with a 2.69 ERA in 11 starts down the stretch to finish 17-6. The Yankees then rewarded him with a
$34 million, two-year contract.
Source: Quintana agrees to $8M deal with Angels
NEW YORK » Left-hander José Quintana has agreed to an $8 million, one-year contract with the Angels, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press.
Quintana was limited to one start and three relief appearances during the pandemic-shortened
2020 season, when he started late after surgery July 2 to repair nerve damage caused by a cut on the thumb of his pitching hand.
Quintana was 33-23 with a 4.24 ERA for the Cubs, leaving him 8377 with a 3.73 overall.
Davis returns to Royals
KANSAS CITY, MO. » Reliever Wade Davis is returning to the Kansas City Royals, the team he helped pitch to the 2015 World Series title.
Davis and the Royals agreed Wednesday to a minor league contract, and the 35-year-old righthander will go to spring training trying to earn a spot on the major league roster.