MLB Notes

ANGELS

Teams announce swap

ANAHEIM, Calif. -- The Los Angeles Angels have acquired second baseman Johnny Giavotella from the Kansas City Royals for minor league pitcher Brian Broderick.

The clubs announced the deal Friday.

Giavotella was designated for assignment by the Royals on Thursday after spending most of last season at Class AAA Omaha. He has played parts of four big league seasons in Kansas City, batting .238 in 125 career games.

The Angels need a second baseman after trading Howie Kendrick to the Dodgers. They are still attempting to re-sign infielder Gordon Beckham.

Broderick was signed by the Angels earlier in the offseason. He pitched in the independent Atlantic League last season.

ROYALS

Veteran Rios signed

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The Kansas City Royals announced the signing of veteran outfielder Alex Rios to an $11 million, one-year deal Friday that includes a mutual option for the 2016 season.

Rios, who will take over right field for departed free agent Nori Aoki, will make $9.5 million this season. The deal includes $12.5 million the following year with a $1.5 million buyout.

The 33-year-old Rios should provide more pop to a lineup that lacked home-run hitters last season. He's part of an offseason spending spree by the AL champs that includes the signing of Kendrys Morales to a $17 million, two-year deal to become their designated hitter.

Rios hit .280 with four home runs and 54 RBI for Texas last season.

The Royals have also signed pitcher Kris Medlen, who is coming off Tommy John surgery, and agreed to terms with pitcher Edinson Volquez.

YANKEES

Marlins deal nets trio

NEW YORK -- The Yankees acquired pitcher Nathan Eovaldi, outfielder Garrett Jones and minor league pitcher Domingo German from the Miami Marlins on Friday for Martin Prado and pitcher David Phelps.

Eovaldi, a right-hander who turns 25 in February, was acquired by the Marlins in July 2012 as part of the deal that sent All-Star shortstop Hanley Ramirez to the Los Angeles Dodgers. He throws at up to 98 mph and was 6-14 with a 4.37 ERA last season. Eovaldi is eligible for salary arbitration for the first time.

Jones, 33, provides backup to Mark Teixeira at first base and outfield depth behind projected starters Jacoby Ellsbury, Brett Gardner and Carlos Beltran. Jones hit .246 with 15 home runs and 53 RBI last season and is signed for $5 million for 2015. His acquisition seems to lock out Alex Rodriguez as a possible backup at first.

German, a 22-year-old right-hander, was 9-3 with a 2.48 ERA for Greensboro in the South Atlantic League, striking out 113 in 123 1/3 innings.

Mets trade RHP Germen

NEW YORK -- The Yankees have acquired right-hander Gonzalez Germen from the Mets for cash in the first trade in a decade between the New York rivals.

The 27-year-old had a 4.75 ERA in 25 relief appearances this year with the Mets and was 3-1 with six saves and a 2.38 ERA in 18 games for Class AAA Las Vegas. He is 1-2 with one save and a 4.31 ERA in two years with the Mets.

The Yankees designated right-hander Preston Claiborne for assignment Friday to clear a roster spot.

The previous trade between the rivals had been when the Yankees obtained Mike Stanton for Felix Heredia in a swap of left-handers on Dec. 3, 2004.

DODGERS

Dodgers' tax tops Yanks

NEW YORK -- The Los Angeles Dodgers have ended the New York Yankees' 15-year streak as Major League Baseball's biggest spenders and owe more than $26.6 million in luxury tax.

The Dodgers finished with a record payroll of $257,283,410, according to final calculations made by Major League Baseball on Friday and obtained by The Associated Press. That is more than $20 million above the previous high, set by the Yankees last year.

For the first time since the current luxury tax began in 2003, the Yankees won't be paying the most. The luxury tax was put in place as a slowdown on spending by high-revenue teams, and teams pay based on the amount they are over the $189 million threshold.

The Dodgers owe $26,621,125 based on a $277.7 million payroll for purposes of the tax, which calculates payroll based on the average annual value of contracts for players on the 40-man roster and includes benefits.

The Dodgers pay the tax at a 30 percent rate because they have gone over the threshold for the second straight year. Their rate would increase to 40 percent if they go over in 2015, which is likely.

The Yankees cut their payroll and owe $18.3 million in tax, down from $28.1 million. They have gone over the threshold every year and pay at a 50 percent rate.

Checks to the commissioner's office are due by Jan. 21.

PIRATES

Hart gets $2.5M deal

PITTSBURGH -- First baseman Corey Hart and the Pittsburgh Pirates have agreed to a $2.5 million, one-year contract.

The deal, which includes $2.5 million in performance bonuses, gives the Pirates a right-handed option at first base to join left-handed slugger Pedro Alvarez, who is moving from third to first.

The 32-year-old Hart hit .203 with six home runs and 21 RBI in 68 games for the Seattle Mariners in 2014, most of them as a designated hitter, and became a free agent in October when he refused an outright assignment to the minor leagues. He missed the 2013 season due to surgeries on both knees.

Hart is a career .271 hitter was a two-time All-Star while playing for Milwaukee in 2008 and 2010. He set career highs with 31 home runs and 103 RBI in 2010 and hit .270 with 30 home runs and 83 RBI in his last full year with Milwaukee in 2012.

Hart can earn $250,000 each for 350, 375, 400 and 425 plate appearances, and $300,000 apiece for 450, 475, 500, 525 and 550.

Sports on 12/20/2014

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