A-Rod wins third MVP but denied unanimous selection

NEW YORK -- Alex Rodriguez has millions of dollars in his investment accounts, three AL MVP awards for his trophy case -- and zero World Series rings for his fingers.

"There's definitely a huge hole in the resume. And I mean, it's my third MVP and I'm here to say that I would trade all three for one world championship. I wouldn't think twice about it," Rodriguez said.

Of course, a World Series will have to wait. But for now, he has the satisfaction of his latest MVP, won Monday in a romp over Detroit's Magglio Ordonez.

While A-Rod wouldn't address why he opted out of his old Yankees contract or the reasons for his decision to reverse course and return to New York, he did slip this into a 30-minute conference call: Yankees general manager Brian Cashman asked him after the 2006 season, after he was dropped to eighth in the batting order in the playoff finale against Detroit, whether he'd prefer a trade.

"I had many, many opportunities," Rodriguez said. "There was a lot of interest from a lot of other teams and I felt I didn't want to go anywhere."

Cashman later confirmed that he approached A-Rod after the 2006 playoff elimination and asked the star third baseman whether he wanted to be traded. Despite four seasons in New York that filled more tabloid headlines than most players get in a lifetime, Rodriguez wants to stay. If and when he breaks Barry Bonds' career home run record, he wants to do it with the Yankees.

"It's something magical when you go in that field in front of 55,000 people, and then when you make championships and all-time records. I mean, the potential of it is exciting," he said.

By then, the Yankees will be in their new stadium, one Rodriguez hopes to put his stamp on. He admitted playing in the glare of the Big Apple took a long time to get used to.

"I banged my head against New York; New York didn't bang me against the head. I felt like I made a lot of mistakes," he said. "I was trying to please everybody rather than do what made me happy."

Triple Threats

Three-time MVP Alex Rodriguez led the majors this season in home runs, RBIs and runs scored. The short list of players who have done so, in the last 75 seasons (* -- won MVP):

Year		HRs	RBIs	Runs
2007	*Rodriguez	54	156	143
1961	*Roger Maris	61	142	132
1956	*Mickey Mantle	52	130	132
1947	Johnny Mize	51	138	137
1942	Ted Williams	36	137	141

His new attitude produced his best season and it showed in the MVP race. Rodriguez received 26 first-place votes and 382 points in balloting by the Baseball Writers' Association of America, while Ordonez had two firsts and 258 points.

Rodriguez won his first MVP in 2003, his last season with the Texas Rangers. He also won with the Yankees in 2005. Those yearly fluctuations bother him.

"It's something I'm aware of and something that needs to stop," he said. "I'd much rather have above average every year or great every year or good every year."

Rodriguez started this year with 14 homers in his first 18 games, hit .314 for the season and led the majors with 54 homers, 156 RBIs and 143 runs. He was the first player since New York's Roger Maris in 1961 to lead the majors in homers, RBIs and runs, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

An 11-time All-Star, Rodriguez became the ninth player to win the MVP three or more times. Barry Bonds holds the record with seven -- all in the NL -- and Yogi Berra, Roy Campanella, Joe DiMaggio, Jimmie Foxx, Mickey Mantle, Stan Musial and Mike Schmidt won three apiece.

"I'm expected to do great things, I mean, for a lot of reasons, and I understand that," Rodriguez said.

AL MVP Voting

Alex Rodriguez became just the ninth player to win the MVP award three or more times.

Player	1st	2nd	3rd	Total
A-Rod, NY	26	2	--	382
Magglio Ordonez, Det	2	22	4	258
Vlad Guerrero, LA	--	3	10	203
Others receiving votes: David Ortiz, Bos, 177; Mike Lowell, Bos, 126; Jorge Posada, NY, 112; Victor Martinez, Cle, 103; Ichiro Suzuki, Sea, 89; Carlos Pena, TB, 64; Curtis Granderson, Det, 51; Derek Jeter, NY, 17; Grady Sizemore, Cle, 15; J.J. Putz, Sea, 12; C.C. Sabathia, Cle, 11; Torii Hunter, Min, 5; Orlando Cabrera, LA, 5; Bobby Abreu, NY 4; John Lackey, LA, 4; Placido Polanco, Det, 4; Justin Morneau, Min, 3; Chone Figgins, LA, 3; Josh Beckett, Bos, 2; Fausto Carmona, Cle, 1; Frank Thomas, Tor, 1.

The only two first-place votes that didn't go to Rodriguez were from Tom Gage of The Detroit News and Jim Hawkins of The Oakland Press in Pontiac, Mich.

"Magglio is a friend and had an unbelievable season," Rodriguez said. "I've been on that side of the fence many, many times."

He remembered back to his first full season in the majors with Seattle, when he finished three points behind Texas' Juan Gonzalez in MVP balloting.

"I was almost in tears in 1996 when I didn't win the award, and it was very painful," Rodriguez said. "At the time, I was 20 years old and thought I would never get another chance to win it."

Still, there is the absence of a title. He's spoken with quarterback John Elway about the need for one to validate a career.

"Definitely the exclamation point in his career was the two championships at the end, and I have tremendous faith that I will be a world champion," Rodriguez said. "What better place to do it than in New York?"

Rodriguez didn't want to talk about his negotiations with the Yankees that are leading toward a $275 million, 10-year contract. "There is a finish line in sight," Rodriguez said, adding he would talk about the contract "when the time is right."

He also wouldn't detail the advice he was given by investor Warren Buffet.

"We usually visit every year. Warren is a friend,"' Rodriguez said. "He's done a great job of foreseeing things in business. Now he's doing it in baseball, too, so that's pretty good."

A-Rod struggled in the playoffs again this year as the Yankees lost to Cleveland in the first round. He went 4-for-15 (.267) with one RBI against the Indians, leaving him in an 8-for-59 (.136) postseason funk dating to 2004 and hitless in his past 18 playoff at-bats with runners in scoring position.

He had talked about his desire to get more postseason at-bats, but that didn't happen.

"Part of the reason I'm not getting those at-bats is because I'm not performing," he said.

As soon as Rodriguez arrived at spring training this year, he took a new approach. He finally admitted he no longer was best buddies with Yankees captain Derek Jeter, ending a charade that had gone on for three seasons.

"I thought being honest was the best policy," he said. "It made me feel a lot better about myself. It took a lot a weights off my shoulders. And, you know, at the end of the day, I think the truth will set you free. Whether some people like it or some people don't, I could care less."

He realizes that with the Yankees, only titles please. Everything else matters little.

Notes
A-Rod earned a $1.5 million bonus for winning the award, which completes the contract he opted out of last month. He earned $185.45 million over seven years in that deal, including bonuses, an average of $26.49 million annually. ... It was the 20th time a Yankees player won the MVP award.

Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press

White Sox get Gold Glove SS Cabrera for right-hander Garland

ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Gold Glove shortstop Orlando Cabrera was traded by the Los Angeles Angels to the Chicago White Sox for pitcher Jon Garland on Monday in a surprising swap of dependable players.

The deal came 12 days after the White Sox re-signed shortstop Juan Uribe to a $4.5 million, one-year contract. Now, he could wind up on the bench or with another team.

"We saw an opportunity to acquire one of the best shortstops in the game and one of the smartest shortstops in the game. Somebody who can fit into the No. 2 spot in our lineup for 155 games,'' Chicago general manager Ken Williams said, adding the trade frees up money that could help the White Sox pull off another deal.

"We're not done yet. We're still out there trying to land some big fish,'' he said.

The Angels, too, may have more deals ahead. Los Angeles has talked with Florida about a trade for Marlins third baseman Miguel Cabrera. Los Angeles also is believed to be interested in Baltimore shortstop Miguel Tejada.

"What this means is it gives us opportunities to strengthen our club in other areas,'' new Angels general manager Tony Reagins said. "It gives us flexibility to look at other things.''

The 33-year-old Cabrera batted .301 with eight homers, 86 RBIs and a career-high 101 runs for the AL West champions this season. He also led AL shortstops in fielding percentage (.983) and won his second Gold Glove. The other came in 2001 with the Montreal Expos.

Garland, an 18-game winner in 2005 and 2006, was 10-13 with a 4.23 ERA in 32 starts this year. He joins a solid Angels rotation that includes John Lackey, Kelvim Escobar and Jered Weaver.

"For me it's a great opportunity, growing up in the Southern California area, to come home and show the West what my capabilities are,'' Garland said. "I'd love to bring a championship back to Southern California and enjoy it back home.''

Cabrera

Garland

The 28-year-old right-hander is 92-81 with a 4.41 ERA in 246 games, including 223 starts, over eight major league seasons, all with the White Sox. Chicago also receives cash from the Angels as part of the trade.

Garland's salary is $12 million next year, then he can become a free agent. Cabrera's salary is $9 million in 2008, and he also will be eligible for free agency after the season.

Garland pitched a four-hitter to beat Lackey 5-2 in Game 3 of the 2005 AL Championship Series, giving up a two-run homer to Cabrera.

This isn't the first time Cabrera has been involved in a noteworthy deal. He was shipped from Montreal to Boston at the 2004 trade deadline as part of a four-team swap that included Nomar Garciaparra.

Cabrera helped the Red Sox win the World Series that season, snapping their 86-year title drought, before signing with the Angels. He is a .273 career hitter in 11 big league seasons.

The Angels plan to fill the void at shortstop with Erick Aybar and Maicer Izturis until prospect Brandon Wood is ready to take over.

"Orlando brought a presence on the field,'' Los Angeles manager Mike Scioscia said. "We're very confident with what Erick brings not only in the future, but now, and what Maicer brings. You have to give to get, and Orlando was the piece they wanted.''

Garland was a key member of the deep rotation that pitched Chicago to the 2005 World Series championship, ending an 88-year title drought. He went 18-10 with a 3.50 ERA and three shutouts that season, earning a trip to the All-Star game. He was 18-7 with a 4.51 ERA in 2006.

"Pitching depth today is at as much a premium as it has been in baseball,'' Scioscia said.

Garland has been a reliable starter for the White Sox, throwing more than 208 innings each of the last four seasons. But Williams said his club has ample depth in the minors.

Chicago will likely begin next season with a rotation of Mark Buehrle, Javier Vazquez, Jose Contreras, John Danks and Gavin Floyd. The White Sox tumbled to fourth place in the AL Central this year and Williams has vowed to make changes.

"Last year did not sit well with any of us. I'll be damned if we're going to go through that again. We will aggressively pursue a championship,'' he said.

The White Sox also hope to bolster their bullpen, and they need help in the outfield. Reports said they met with free-agent center fielder Torii Hunter.

"This is just a start,'' Williams said.

Uribe ranked second among AL shortstops in home runs (20) and fielding percentage (.976) this year, but he batted .234 with a paltry .284 on-base percentage. The White Sox plan to go with youngster Danny Richar at second base next season, so Uribe's role is uncertain. He could wind up as a utility player.

Williams said he tried to leave a message for Uribe, but his mailbox was full.

The Angels appear more in need of offense than pitching. They ranked 12th out of 14 AL teams with 123 homers this season, but finished fifth in ERA at 4.23. Oft-injured ace Bartolo Colon, the 2005 AL Cy Young Award winner, is a free agent.

"Tony's not done. He's going to keep pushing forward,'' Scioscia said. "I'm certain he's going to look at the offensive end, and every club he talks to is going to be interested in pitching. I know Tony's in a terrific position right now going into the winter meetings with a legitimate six-man rotation.''

Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press

Lowell, Red Sox agree to 3-year, $37.5M deal

BOSTON (AP) -- World Series MVP Mike Lowell is staying with the Boston Red Sox, meaning the reigning champions will try to repeat with all their key players from 2007.

The Red Sox and their popular third baseman reached a preliminary agreement Monday on a three-year, $37.5 million contract, according to two people familiar with the negotiations who spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal had not been finalized.

While the sides have reached the outline of the deal, there are still minor issues to be worked out and as of Monday evening there still was not a signed letter of agreement between the team and Lowell's agents. Team spokesman John Blake declined comment.

In the three weeks since winning their second championship in four seasons, the Red Sox have re-signed their two biggest free agents, Lowell and pitcher Curt Schilling, and picked up options on Tim Wakefield and Julian Tavarez.

Lowell, a 33-year-old third baseman who made $9 million this season, was seeking four guaranteed years and might have gotten it elsewhere.

"How cool is that? Leaving years and dollars on the table to come back here for three more years, good stuff," Schilling wrote on his blog, 38pitches.com. "Congrats to Mike and I've already spoken with a few guys on the team and suffice to say we're all" ecstatic.

Boston's remaining free agents are backups, middle relievers and injured starting pitcher Matt Clement.

A high-priced castoff of the Florida Marlins who was dumped on the Red Sox in the Josh Beckett trade, Lowell moved into the fifth spot in Boston's powerful lineup behind David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez. Lowell hit 21 homers this season while reaching career highs with a .324 average and 120 RBIs.

Lowell batted .400 (6-for-15) during Boston's four-game Series sweep of the Colorado Rockies, with four RBIs, three walks and a team-high six runs to earn MVP honors. Red Sox fans were still celebrating at Coors Field when they began chanting for management to re-sign Lowell and ignore the temptations offered by AL MVP Alex Rodriguez, alternating chants of "Re-sign Lowell!" with chants of "Don't sign A-Rod!"

During the team's victory parade, Ramirez also cast a vote for the incumbent: "Forget about A-Rod," he yelled, "we've got Mike Lowell in the house!"

A four-time All-Star, Lowell was the honorary grand marshal at a Disney World parade last week.

"Mike is a heck of a teammate. I just saw him down in Disney World," teammate David Ortiz told redsox.com on Sunday at an event to raise money for victims of Hurricane Noel. "Mike helped us out so much, and hopefully they can get everything done with him and have him back for years."

The other remaining Red Sox free agents are backup outfielders Bobby Kielty and Eric Hinske, shortstop Royce Clayton, relievers Eric Gagne and Mike Timlin and backup catcher Doug Mirabelli.

------

AP Baseball Writer Ronald Blum in New York contributed to this report.

Copyright 2007 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Mets, Castillo agree on 4-year, $25M deal

NEW YORK (AP) -- Second baseman Luis Castillo decided to stay with the New York Mets, reaching a preliminary agreement Sunday night on a $25 million, four-year contract.

Castillo must pass a physical for the deal to be finalized, a person with knowledge of the talks said, speaking on condition of anonymity because the team had not made an announcement.

The three-time All-Star hit .296 for the Mets with 10 steals and 20 RBIs for the Mets, who acquired him from Minnesota on July 30. He batted .304 with 18 RBIs for the Twins.

Castillo also won three Gold Gloves and provided steady defense up the middle with shortstop Jose Reyes despite playing on a sore knee that limited his speed. While Castillo struck out for the final out of the season and completed the Mets' collapse from a seven-game NL East lead, the 32-year-old infielder hit .316 in September.

Castillo's preliminary agreement came the same day that two-time Cy Young Award winner Tom Glavine decided to leave the Mets and return to the Atlanta Braves, his original team. Glavine, who lives in the Atlanta area, was given an $8 million, one-year contract by the Mets' NL East rival after turning down a $13 million option to stay with New York and receiving a $3 million buyout.

On a busy weekend, the Mets also broke off talks with free-agent catcher Yorvit Torrealba, who was set to replace Paul Lo Duca as the team's regular starter. The sides had reached a preliminary agreement last week on a $14.4 million, three-year contract that was subject to a physical.

Glavine's departure leaves the Mets searching for even more starting pitching in a market that is thin. Livan Hernandez, a free agent, is one possibility. If Minnesota can't re-sign Johan Santana, who can become a free agent after next season, the Mets are interested in trying to work out a trade for the two-time AL Cy Young Award winner.

Copyright 2007 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Glavine agrees to $8 million contract with Braves

NEW YORK -- Tom Glavine returned to the Atlanta Braves, agreeing Sunday to an $8 million, one-year contract that brings him back to his former team.

The agreement between the two-time NL Cy Young Award winner and the Braves was revealed by a person familiar with the deal who spoke on condition of anonymity because the team has not yet announced it.

Glavine already has taken a physical for the Braves, the person said.

AP NEWS
The Associated Press News Service

Copyright 2006-2007, The Associated Press, All Rights Reserved

Hot Stove: Several deals close: Glavine, Rivera on verge of signing with Braves, Yankees

Several free agents appeared to be on the verge of closing new deals as weekend negotiations advanced on a number of fronts, and a Sunday trade between the A's and Blue Jays was announced.

Another negotiation broke off, however, as the Mets and free-agent catcher Yorvit Torrealba are no longer bargaining.

As recently as Thursday night, the two sides seemed to be close to finalizing a contract for three years and $14.4 million, pending Torrealba's passing of a physical.

The Mets declined to say Saturday whether Torrealba had passed -- or even taken -- a physical. Instead, the club only acknowledged that no deal was in place and no additional contact with Torrealba's agent was scheduled. General manager Omar Minaya said, "All I will tell you is that we have no agreement and there are no current negotiations."

Minaya also declined to say whether he planned to renew contact or if he had made contact with the agent for Paul Lo Duca, who seemingly had been eliminated as a candidate to catch next season.

Another high-profile negotiation could begin again when Texas Rangers owner Tom Hicks and GM Jon Daniels meet with free-agent center fielder Torii Hunter on Monday night, with the Rangers expected to make an offer on a five-year contract.

Meanwhile, the New York Yankees were reportedly close to inking Mariano Rivera to an extension, the Braves and Tom Glavine were nearing a reunion, the Kansas City Royals were closing in on free-agent pitcher Yasuhiko Yabuta and the A's traded infielder Marco Scutaro to Toronto for pitchers Kristian Bell and Graham Godfrey.

Here's the rundown:

A's: In exchange for Scutaro, the A's obtained a pair of Minor League prospects.

Bell, who was selected by the Blue Jays in the 11th round of the 2004 First-Year Player Draft, posted a 3-7 record with a 5.33 ERA in 22 games, including 11 starts, for Class A Dunedin last season. The 23-year-old right-hander has a 18-17 record and a 4.18 ERA in 79 Minor League appearances, including 49 starts.

Godfrey, 23, posted a 6-7 record and a 3.98 ERA in 21 games, all starts, for Class A Lansing last season in his first year of professional ball. He was selected by the Blue Jays in the 34th round of the 2006 First-Year Player Draft out of the College of Charleston.

Braves: Glavine's negotiations with the Braves are moving quickly, and the two parties could reach an agreement as early as Sunday.

"I think it's a pretty good chance" it will be finalized Sunday, agent Gregg Clifton told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution late Saturday. "We made a lot of progress, and we're going to speak again in the morning."

Even if an agreement was reached at any point this weekend, the Braves have planned to delay the formal announcement until at least Monday. The Braves presented their first offer on Friday afternoon, and Glavine's agent provided a counteroffer a few hours later. At that time, Clifton said the two parties weren't far apart.

Blue Jays: Toronto picked up a versatile infielder in the veteran Scutaro, who finished the 2007 season with a .260 batting average to go along with seven home runs and 41 RBIs in 104 games.

Scutaro started 86 games for the A's at five different positions, including 38 at shortstop, 33 at third base, 12 at second base, two in right field and one in left field. Only Eric Chavez (512) has appeared in more games than Scutaro (476) since he joined the A's in 2004.

Royals: Manager Trey Hillman has left Japanese baseball to join the Royals. Could a Japanese pitcher be on his way as well? Reports circulated during the weekend that the Royals were negotiating with Yabuta, a right-handed reliever from the Japan League.

Royals general manager Dayton Moore said he couldn't comment on "any pending negotiations" with any free agent.

Hillman signed in October to manage the Royals as he ended a five-year stay as manager of the Nippon Ham Fighters. Yabuta has pitched 12 years for the rival Chiba Lotte Marines, currently managed by Bobby Valentine, and that club is believed to want him back. Yabuta, 34, has been primarily a setup man the last four years for the Marines, compiling a 2.80 ERA in 222 appearances during that span. Previously, he was a starting pitcher.

The Royals want to add bullpen depth primarily because setup man David Riske has become a free agent and Zack Greinke has returned to the starting rotation.

Riske declined a $2.9 million option with the Royals for 2008 and, as a free agent, is seeking a multiyear deal. The Royals still would like to bring him back.

"We need to sign two or three relievers," Moore said.

Yankees: According to a report published Sunday in the New York Post, Mariano Rivera is expected to accept the Yankees' three-year, $45 million contract offer early this week. Rivera had spent last week in the Dominican Republic conducting baseball clinics.

The Post reported that Rivera will meet with his representatives on Sunday. According to multiple reports, Rivera may have had interest in a fourth year being added to his contract.

Yankees senior vice president Hank Steinbrenner has said the team would hold firm with its offer, which would make Rivera baseball's highest-paid closer, eclipsing Billy Wagner's deal across town with the Mets, where he earns $10.5 million annually.

Rivera, who turns 38 on Nov. 29, has pitched for the Yankees since 1995, compiling an American League-record 443 saves in the regular season.

Jim Molony is a reporter for MLB.com.

Report: Rivera to re-sign with Yanks

Veteran closer set to accept record deal for reliever

NEW YORK -- Mariano Rivera's icy negotiations with the Yankees may be reaching a thaw, as the future Hall of Fame closer appears primed to remain with the club.

According to a report published Sunday in the New York Post, Rivera is expected to accept the Yankees' three-year, $45 million contract offer early this week. Rivera had spent last week in the Dominican Republic conducting baseball clinics.

The Post reported that Rivera will meet with his representatives on Sunday. According to multiple reports, Rivera may have had interest in a fourth year being added to his contract.

Yankees senior vice president Hank Steinbrenner has said the team would hold firm with its offer, which would make Rivera baseball's highest-paid closer, eclipsing Billy Wagner's deal across town with the Mets, where he earns $10.5 million annually.

Rivera, who turns 38 on Nov. 29, has pitched for the Yankees since 1995, compiling an American League-record 443 saves in the regular season. The most dominant postseason pitcher of his generation, Rivera owns a Major League-record 34 more saves in the playoffs, where he has a 0.77 career ERA.

Rivera made 67 relief appearances for the Yankees in 2007, finishing with 30 saves while going 3-4 with a 3.15 ERA. His signing has been earmarked by Yankees general manager Brian Cashman as one of the club's priorities leading into the early offseason months, along with re-signing catcher Jorge Posada.

Hours before he could have discussed financial terms with other clubs, Posada reportedly agreed to a four-year, $52.4 million deal. Posada had a physical last week and an official announcement is expected shortly.

The Yankees are also continuing to hammer out the details of Alex Rodriguez's landmark 10-year, $275 million contract, just weeks after the likely American League MVP delivered word that he had opted out of contract during Game 4 of the World Series.

"It feels great," Steinbrenner told the Post. "There was never any question we wanted to keep all of them. Obviously, they are being paid very well. Alex was the thing nobody expected, and he came through."

Bryan Hoch is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.