PHILLIES
Santana gets $60M deal
PHILADELPHIA -- Carlos Santana is bringing his big bat and postseason experience to the Philadelphia Phillies.
The 31-year-old first baseman became the first of the offseason's big-name free agents to find a new home, agreeing Friday to a $60 million, three-year contract with the Philadelphia Phillies, according to two people familiar with the deal.
The people spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the agreement is contingent on Santana passing a physical.
Santana became the first to reach a deal among the nine free agents who last month rejected $17.4 million qualifying offers from their former teams.
Philadelphia also traded shortstop Freddy Galvis to San Diego for minor league pitcher Enyel De Los Santos, and finalized two-year deals with relievers Tommy Hunter ($18 million) and Pat Neshek ($16.5 million).
Santana hit 23 home runs with 79 RBI for Cleveland, where he spent all eight of his big league seasons. He started as a catcher in 2010 and shifted to first base in 2015.
Santana, who has a .249 career batting average and .445 slugging percentage, is expected to play first base for Philadelphia. Slugger Rhys Hoskins would stay in left field, giving the Phillies a surplus of outfielders to use as trade bait for starting pitching.
ANGELS
Cozart signs for 3 years
ANAHEIM, Calif. -- All-Star infielder Zack Cozart has agreed to a $38 million, three-year contract with the Los Angeles Angels and is likely to shift from shortstop to third base.
Cozart gets $13,666,000 next season and $13,667,000 in each of the final two years of the deal announced Friday.
The 32-year-old was a first-time All-Star this year. He hit .297 with 24 home runs and 63 RBI.
Cozart has a .254 average in seven big league seasons, all with Cincinnati.
Gold Glove winner Andrelton Simmons is at shortstop for the Angels. Yunel Escobar is not expected to return at third after struggling with injuries this year.
Los Angeles reached an agreement last week with Japanese pitcher/outfielder Shohei Ohtani and acquired second baseman Ian Kinsler from Detroit this week.
ASTROS
Rondon acquired from Cubs
HOUSTON -- Reliever Hector Rondon has agreed to an $8.5 million, two-year contract with the World Series champion Houston Astros.
The 29-year-old right-hander gets $4 million next year and $4.5 million in 2019.
He spent the last five years with the Chicago Cubs, where he went 18-13 with a 3.22 ERA and 77 saves. He went 4-1 with a 4.24 ERA and a career-best 10.83 strikeouts per 9 innings last season.
To make room for Rondon on the roster, the Astros designated outfielder Preston Tucker for assignment. Tucker played in 146 games with the Astros from 2015-16, hitting 27 doubles and 17 home runs with 41 RBI. He spent last season at Class AAA Fresno.
RANGERS
Martin deal finalized
ARLINGTON, Texas -- The Texas Rangers have finalized Chris Martin's $4 million, two-year contract after the homegrown pitcher spent the past two seasons in Japan.
The 31-year-old right-hander, who was born in Arlington and went to high school about 4 miles from the Rangers' ballpark, had a long road to his first shot in the majors with Colorado three years ago. He pitched for the New York Yankees before joining the Pacific League's Nippon Ham Fighters.
Martin had the lowest ERA (1.12) and opponents' batting average (.154) in the Japanese leagues during the 2016-17 seasons.
As part of the deal announced Friday, the 6-foot-8 reliever will make $1.75 million next season and $2.25 million in 2019.
After twice turning down offers to sign out of high school and junior college, Martin injured his shoulder pitching for McLennan Community College. He was out of baseball about three years before getting a shot in the Boston organization.
Martin is 0-2 with a 6.19 ERA in 40 major league appearances, the most recent on Oct. 3, 2015, for the Yankees at Baltimore.
ROCKIES
Shaw, McGee join bullpen
DENVER -- The Colorado Rockies have fortified their bullpen by finalizing three-year deals with right-hander Bryan Shaw and lefty Jake McGee.
The 30-year-old Shaw was 4-6 with 3 saves and a 3.52 ERA last season with the Cleveland Indians. Shaw has the third-most appearances in the majors (475 games) since making his debut in 2011.
McGee has spent the last two seasons in Denver after being acquired from Tampa Bay on Jan. 28, 2016. The 31-year-old was 0-2 with 3 saves and a 3.61 ERA last season to help the Rockies return to the postseason.
Colorado may not be done bolstering its bullpen. The team possibly could bring back closer Greg Holland, who finished with 41 saves last season after missing 2016 while recovering from Tommy John surgery.
GIANTS
Moore moves to Rangers
SAN FRANCISCO — Left-hander Matt Moore was traded from the San Francisco Giants to the Texas Rangers for minor league righthanders Israel Cruz and Sam Wolff. Texas also received $750,000 in international signing bonus pool allotment from the Giants as part of the trade announced Friday.
San Francisco last month exercised Moore’s $7 million option for 2018. He went 6-15 with a 5.52 ERA in 174 1/3 innings last season, setting a career high for losses, as the Giants finished last in the NL West. He allowed a career-worst 107 earned runs.
He joins a rotation with two other lefties in 13-game winner Martin Perez and Cole Hamels, who won 11 games this year. Right-hander Andrew Cashner, another 11-game winner, became a free agent after completing a $10 million, one-year deal with Texas.
Texas went 78-84 and finished third in the AL West behind the World Series champion Houston Astros and the Los Angeles Angels.
TIGERS
Former pitcher Lary dies
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- Former star Detroit Tigers pitcher Frank Lary has died at 87.
Nephew Joe Lary said the Northport, Ala., native died Wednesday night after being hospitalized in Tuscaloosa with pneumonia.
Lary pitched with the Tigers from 1954-64 and led the American League with 21 victories in 1956. A two-time All-Star, he won the Gold Glove Award in 1961. Lary was nicknamed "Yankee Killer" after going 27-10 against the New York Yankees from 1955-61.
Joe Lary said that his uncle's success was "really due to his competitive spirit" as the second youngest of seven boys.
Frank Lary also played for the New York Mets, Milwaukee Braves and Chicago White Sox during a 12-year career in which he went 128-116.
Lary pitched for the University of Alabama.
Sports on 12/16/2017