A's, Kazmir Agree To 2-Year, $22M Deal
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) Free-agent left-hander Scott Kazmir agreed to terms on a $22 million, two-year contract with the Oakland Athletics on Monday, a person with knowledge of the negotiations said.
The deal is pending a physical. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the team hadn't finalized the deal or formally announced interest in Kazmir.
Also Monday, the A's reached agreement on a one-year contract with right-hander Fernando Rodriguez. He was one of nine arbitration eligible players - and all were tendered contracts for the 2014 season, including first baseman Daric Barton. Barton is the team's longest-tenured player and will provide infield depth.
The 29-year-old Kazmir went 10-9 with a 4.04 ERA in 29 starts and 158 innings last season for the Cleveland Indians. It marked his return to the big leagues for the first time since making one poor outing for the Angels in 2011, which followed a 9-15 performance in 2010 for Los Angeles.
With the pending acquisition of Kazmir, the A's have filled a rotation spot with a veteran starter as they had hoped to do. That means the two-time defending AL West champions won't necessarily continue to pursue a new deal for 40-year-old 18-game winner Bartolo Colon.
Kazmir will join a rotation featuring Sonny Gray and A.J. Griffin.
General manager Billy Beane said after the season he was hopeful of re-signing Colon after he received a $3 million, one-year contract and bounced back from 2012, when his season ended in August because of a 50-game suspension for a positive testosterone test.
Rodriguez was acquired in a trade with Houston last February that also brought Jed Lowrie to the A's in exchange for Chris Carter, Brad Peacock and Max Stassi. Rodriguez missed the season after undergoing right elbow reconstruction surgery March 27.
He is 4-13 with a 4.89 ERA in 119 career relief appearances with the Los Angeles Angels and Astros.
The other arbitration-eligible players tendered contracts by Monday's deadline were outfielders Josh Reddick and Seth Smith, infielders Brandon Moss and Jed Lowrie, relief pitchers Jerry Blevins and Jesse Chavez, and catcher John Jaso.
