AP source: Ozuna to Cardinals

Miami has agreed to trade left fielder Marcell Ozuna to the St. Louis Cardinals, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press, the third All-Star jettisoned by the Marlins this month in an unrelenting payroll purge under new CEO Derek Jeter. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Wednesday because the agreement had not been announced and was subject to a physical. "Ozuna is one of those names that you have to have great respect, especially as much we see him," Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said at the winter meetings. "We're at that necessary point of talking through health always, no matter what the player is. It's not just a formality." An All-Star the past two seasons, the 27-year-old Ozuna set career bests this season with a .312 average, 37 homers and 124 RBIs. He is eligible for salary arbitration and likely will earn more than $10 million. He can become a free agent after the 2019 season. Miami traded second baseman Dee Gordon to Seattle last Thursday for three prospects and dealt right fielder Giancarlo Stanton, the reigning NL MVP, to the New York Yankees on Monday for second baseman Starlin Castro and two prospects. The Cardinals had a deal in place for Stanton last week, but he invoked his no-trade clause and blocked the move. AP source: Mets get Swarzak Free-agent reliever Anthony Swarzak is reuniting with Mickey Callaway, the new manager of the New York Mets. The 32-year-old right-hander and the Mets have agreed to a $14 million, two-year contract, a person with knowledge of the negotiations told The Associated Press. The person spoke on condition of anonymity Wednesday at the winter meetings because the agreement has not been announced and is subject to successful physical. Swarzak spent the first 2 1-2 months of the 2015 season with Cleveland, making 10 appearances with a 3.38 ERA. Callaway was hired to manage the Mets in October after five seasons as the Indians' pitching coach. "We're looking for somebody who can pitch at the back end, somebody who has a demonstrated track record recently and somebody that fits and has known Mickey in some capacity in the past," Mets general manager Sandy Alderson said without confirming the deal. Swarzak was a combined 6-4 with two saves and a 2.33 ERA in 70 games last season for the Chicago White Sox and Milwaukee. He has pitched for five teams in the last four years, including Minnesota, Cleveland and the Yankees.

Twins sign recovering Pineda

The Minnesota Twins have taken another step toward deepening their starting pitching. This boost won't take effect for a while. The Twins signed former New York Yankees right-hander Michael Pineda to two-year, $10 million contract Wednesday, a move made with 2019 in mind. Pineda is recovering from Tommy John surgery performed July 18, putting him on track to return to a major league mound possibly late in the 2018 season. "We all know, when he's healthy, what he can do," manager Paul Molitor said during baseball's winter meetings in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. For now, the focus will be on Pineda's rehabilitation from the elbow ligament replacement procedure. "Obviously, it's going to run up near the end of the year," Molitor said. "At the very worst, we're hoping he goes into the next offseason being able to do his regular work and not worry about rehabbing and be ready for '19." Pineda will make $2 million in 2018 and $8 million in 2019. He went 8-4 with a 4.39 ERA in 17 starts with 92 strikeouts in 96 1/3 innings for the Yankees last year before being sidelined.

Reliever Smith signs with Astros

Right-hander Joe Smith and the World Series champion Houston Astros have agreed to a two-year contract. The 33-year-old was 3-0 with one save and 71 strikeouts over 54 innings in 59 relief appearances this year for Toronto and Cleveland, which reacquired him for a pair of minor leaguers at the July 31 trade deadline. Smith pitched 2 1/3 scoreless innings over four games in the AL Division Series against the New York Yankees. Smith is 44-28 with a 2.97 ERA in 698 relief appearances over 11 big league seasons that also included time with the New York Mets (2007-08), Cleveland (2009-13, the Los Angeles Angels (2014-16) and the Chicago Cubs (2016).