Red Sox agree to tentative deal with shortstop Drew
BOSTON — The Boston Red Sox moved forward with their strategy of giving free agents short-term contracts by reaching a $ 9.5 million, one- year agreement with shortstop Stephen Drew.
A person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press on Tuesday that Drew will take a physical before the deal can be finalized. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the agreement was not complete.
Boston also finalized a $ 4.25 million, one- year contract with 37- year- old reliever Koji Uehara, a deal agreed to two weeks ago atr the winter meetings.
Drew hit .250 with five homers and 16 RBIs in 39 games for the Oakland Athletics last season after being traded by Arizona on Aug. 20. In 40 games with the Diamondbacks, he hit .193 with two homers and 12 RBIs. Drew, 29, is the brother of former Boston outfielder J. D. Drew and had been with Arizona for his entire big- league career until the trade.
A’s, Nakajima OK deal
At Oakland, Calif., the Oakland Athletics have agreed to terms of a twoyear contract with shortstop Hiroyuki Nakajima of Japan’s Seibu Lions.
The deal announced Tuesday runs through the 2014 season and includes a club option for 2015.
Nakajima, a seven- time Pacific League All-Star, has a .302 batting average with 149 home runs, 664 RBIs and 134 stolen bases over 11 seasons with Seibu.
He would fill a big void for Oakland, which traded away shortstop and second baseman Cliff Pennington to Arizona in an Oct. 21 trade that brought outfielder Chris Young to the A’s.
Indians want Swisher
At Cleveland, former Ohio State coach Jim Tressel was among a group who had lunch with free agent outfielder Nick Swisher on his visit with the Cleveland Indians.
The Indians tugged on Swisher’s deep Ohio State ties — he played baseball for the Buckeyes — in hopes of signing the 32-year- old. Swisher and his wife, Joanna, visited Progressive Field on Tuesday.
The couple, expecting their first child in May, toured the team’s family room, a suite and the clubhouse before the Indians played a video on the scoreboard that included messages from current Ohio State football coach Urban Meyer and basketball coach Thad Matta, who encouraged Swisher to sign with Cleveland. Swisher is mulling an offer from the Indians, who have a hole in right field after trading Shin-Soo Choo last week. Swisher is expected to meet with other teams before making a decision.
Casilla, Giants set deal
At San Francisco, righthanded reliever Santiago Casilla has completed a $15 million, three-year contract with the World Series champion San Francisco Giants.
The deal includes a club/ vesting option for the 2016 season. Casilla passed his physical Tuesday, vice president of baseball operations Bobby Evans said.
The 32- year- old Casilla went 7- 6 with a 2.84 ERA and 25 saves last season. He made 73 appearances and pitched 63 1⁄3 innings.
Casilla is set to earn $4.5 million in 2013 and ’ 14 and $5 million in 2015. He would receive a $1 million buyout if his option doesn’t vest. He was eligible for arbitration this winter and could have become a free agent next offseason.