Aurilia is headed to Mariners
CONTRA COSTA TIMES AND WIRE REPORTS
Baseball notes
The Seattle Mariners agreed to a $3.15 million, one-year deal Thursday with free agent shortstop Rich Aurilia, then traded infielder Carlos Guillen to the Detroit Tigers for infielder Ramon Santiago and minor-league shortstop Juan Gonzalez.
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"Seattle was always my choice of the teams that were interested," said Aurilia, 32, who can make an additional $350,000 in performance bonuses. "I knew they had an immediate chance to win."
Aurilia spent eight-plus years with the Giants, hitting .277 with 13 home runs and 58 RBI last season despite a problem with the tear duct in his left eye that made it difficult to wear contact lenses. After his "dry eye" problem was corrected near midseason, he hit .312 in the second half.
"I had some injury problems that affected me offensively," said Aurilia, who missed 32 games in 2003 because of the eye problem, a strained abdominal muscle and an appendectomy. "I look forward to re-establishing myself as one of the top offensive shortstops in baseball."
His best year was 2001, when he hit .324 with 37 home runs and 97 RBI.
Last month, Aurilia said he was upset the Giants didn't make an effort to re-sign him.
"That's Richie's opinion," Giants general manager Brian Sabean told the Times on Dec. 10. "The last time we heard from his agent (Barry Axelrod), he wanted four years and $8 million (per year)."
Guillen, 28, hit .276 with seven homers and 52 RBI last season, splitting time at shortstop and third base. He nearly was traded last month, but a deal with the Cleveland Indians for shortstop Omar Vizquel fell through because Vizquel's surgically repaired knee didn't pass a physical.
Santiago hit .225 with four homers and 12 RBI with the Tigers last season, while Gonzalez played in Single-A.
-- Associated Press and Times staff
METS: Mo Vaughn, 36, won't play in 2004 and is doubtful for 2005 because of an arthritic left knee. The first baseman went on the disabled list May 3 with joint and cartilage damage in his knee and didn't play again last season. "From what the doctors say, it would be tough this season and it's not very bright for years to come," said Vaughn, who's owed $15 million for 2004, the final year of an $80 million contract he signed in 1999. The Mets have a $14 million option with a $2 million buyout in 2005. Insurance on the deal will reimburse the team for 75 percent of the contract once he misses 90 days.
-- Associated Press
DEVIL RAYS: Tampa Bay re-signed outfielder Aubrey Huff to a $14.5 million, three-year contract. Huff, who was eligible for salary arbitration, made $325,000 last season when he hit .311 with 34 homers and 107 RBI. The Devil Rays also signed utility man Robert Fick to a $1 million, one-year deal, pending a physical. He hit .269 with 11 homers and 80 RBI last season for Atlanta.
-- Associated Press
A'S: Oakland signed right-hander Lou Pote to a minor-league contract and invited him to spring training. Pote pitched for Hanshin of the Japanese league last season, going 0-1 with a save and 9.64 ERA in eight appearances.
-- oaklandathletics.com
INDIANS: Cleveland signed reliever Jose Jimenez to a one-year deal worth just over $1 million. Jimenez, 30, had 20 saves last season for Colorado despite a 2-10 record and 5.22 ERA.
-- Associated Press
ETC.: Former major-league outfielder Otis Nixon was arrested after allegedly threatening his bodyguard with a knife at a suburban Atlanta hotel, police said. Kevin Brown told police Nixon became upset when Brown asked him to repay some money that was owed him. A naked Nixon grabbed a kitchen knife and chased Brown out of the hotel room, according to a police report.
CONTRA COSTA TIMES AND WIRE REPORTS
Baseball notes
The Seattle Mariners agreed to a $3.15 million, one-year deal Thursday with free agent shortstop Rich Aurilia, then traded infielder Carlos Guillen to the Detroit Tigers for infielder Ramon Santiago and minor-league shortstop Juan Gonzalez.
ADVERTISEMENT
"Seattle was always my choice of the teams that were interested," said Aurilia, 32, who can make an additional $350,000 in performance bonuses. "I knew they had an immediate chance to win."
Aurilia spent eight-plus years with the Giants, hitting .277 with 13 home runs and 58 RBI last season despite a problem with the tear duct in his left eye that made it difficult to wear contact lenses. After his "dry eye" problem was corrected near midseason, he hit .312 in the second half.
"I had some injury problems that affected me offensively," said Aurilia, who missed 32 games in 2003 because of the eye problem, a strained abdominal muscle and an appendectomy. "I look forward to re-establishing myself as one of the top offensive shortstops in baseball."
His best year was 2001, when he hit .324 with 37 home runs and 97 RBI.
Last month, Aurilia said he was upset the Giants didn't make an effort to re-sign him.
"That's Richie's opinion," Giants general manager Brian Sabean told the Times on Dec. 10. "The last time we heard from his agent (Barry Axelrod), he wanted four years and $8 million (per year)."
Guillen, 28, hit .276 with seven homers and 52 RBI last season, splitting time at shortstop and third base. He nearly was traded last month, but a deal with the Cleveland Indians for shortstop Omar Vizquel fell through because Vizquel's surgically repaired knee didn't pass a physical.
Santiago hit .225 with four homers and 12 RBI with the Tigers last season, while Gonzalez played in Single-A.
-- Associated Press and Times staff
METS: Mo Vaughn, 36, won't play in 2004 and is doubtful for 2005 because of an arthritic left knee. The first baseman went on the disabled list May 3 with joint and cartilage damage in his knee and didn't play again last season. "From what the doctors say, it would be tough this season and it's not very bright for years to come," said Vaughn, who's owed $15 million for 2004, the final year of an $80 million contract he signed in 1999. The Mets have a $14 million option with a $2 million buyout in 2005. Insurance on the deal will reimburse the team for 75 percent of the contract once he misses 90 days.
-- Associated Press
DEVIL RAYS: Tampa Bay re-signed outfielder Aubrey Huff to a $14.5 million, three-year contract. Huff, who was eligible for salary arbitration, made $325,000 last season when he hit .311 with 34 homers and 107 RBI. The Devil Rays also signed utility man Robert Fick to a $1 million, one-year deal, pending a physical. He hit .269 with 11 homers and 80 RBI last season for Atlanta.
-- Associated Press
A'S: Oakland signed right-hander Lou Pote to a minor-league contract and invited him to spring training. Pote pitched for Hanshin of the Japanese league last season, going 0-1 with a save and 9.64 ERA in eight appearances.
-- oaklandathletics.com
INDIANS: Cleveland signed reliever Jose Jimenez to a one-year deal worth just over $1 million. Jimenez, 30, had 20 saves last season for Colorado despite a 2-10 record and 5.22 ERA.
-- Associated Press
ETC.: Former major-league outfielder Otis Nixon was arrested after allegedly threatening his bodyguard with a knife at a suburban Atlanta hotel, police said. Kevin Brown told police Nixon became upset when Brown asked him to repay some money that was owed him. A naked Nixon grabbed a kitchen knife and chased Brown out of the hotel room, according to a police report.