As Steve Finley joined the free-agent stampede to Arizona, 11 free agents re-signed with their former teams and Toronto narrowed the field in its Roger Clemens trade talks.
Finley pushed the Diamondbacks' free-agent bill to $118.9 million Monday, agreeing to a $21.5 million, four-year deal with Arizona.Meanwhile, eight free agents, including pitcher Kevin Brown, were offered salary arbitration by their former teams and may continue to negotiate with them through Jan. 8.
Toronto general manager Gord Ash said he'd like to deal Clemens before the weekend. The only team he mentioned as involved in the talks are the New York Yankees, although Houston and Texas also are thought to be prime contenders.
"Some of the names that have been bandied around by clubs in initial talks are interesting," Ash said.
Among the free agents, reliever Jeff Montgomery was the first to stay at home Monday, agreeing to a $2.5 million, one-year contract with Kansas City -- a $300,000 pay cut.
Third baseman Gary Gaetti re-signed with the Chicago Cubs for a $2 million, one-year contract, and outfielder Glenallen Hill stayed for a $1.15 million, one-year deal.
St. Louis also re-signed a pair of players, agreeing to a $1 million, one-year contract with outfielder Willie McGee and a minor-league deal with infielder Pat Kelly that would turn into a $550,000, one-year contract if he's added to the roster.
Anaheim, which last week signed Mo Vaughn to a record $80 million, six-year contract, re-signed three players. Infielder Randy Velarde got an $800,000, one-year contract, pitcher Jack McDowell got a $500,000, one-year deal and infielder Craig Shipley got a minor-league contract. Shipley would get a $400,000, one-year contract if he makes the team.
Mark Langston, who gave up a tiebreaking grand slam to the Yankees' Tino Martinez in the World Series opener, agreed to a minor league contract with San Diego. He would get a $750,000 contract if he's added to the Padres' roster.
Dave Stieb, who went 1-2 with a 4.83 ERA for Toronto in his comeback, agreed to a minor league deal with the Blue Jays. Stieb, who hadn't pitched since 1993, would get a $400,000, one-year contract if he makes the team.
Cleveland re-signed outfielder Mark Whiten to a $450,000, one-year deal.
The 11 players offered arbitration were Brown (Padres), pitchers Bill Swift (Mariners) and Roger Pavlik (Rangers) and five catchers: Terry Steinbach (Twins), Mike Macfarlane (Athletics), John Marzano (Mariners), Kirt Manwaring (Rockies) and Tom Lampkin (Cardinals).
In addition, teams offered arbitration to three players who already have agreed to a contract, but haven't completed the paper work: Baltimore to Alan Mills (who signed with Los Angeles), the Chicago White Sox to Albert Belle (who signed with Baltimore) and San Diego to Brown. By offering arbitration, teams ensure they'll get draft picks as compensation next June.
Players offered arbitration have through Dec. 19 to accept or reject the offers and may negotiate with their former teams through Jan. 8. Starting today, teams can sign them without losing any draft picks.
Among the players who can't re-sign are Jose Canseco (Blue Jays), Steve Avery and Tim Naehring (Red Sox), Jim Abbott (White Sox), Rickey Henderson (Athletics), Sean Berry (Astros), John Jaha (Brewers) and Orel Hershiser (Giants).
In addition, the New York Yankees have worked out a special arrangement to keep Darryl Strawberry. In a method approved by the union and owners, he will withdraw his free-agent filing, the Yankees will fail to offer him a contract by the Dec. 20 tender deadline and will then re-sign him to a minor-league contract.
Finley gets a $500,000 signing bonus and salaries of $5.25 million per season. He is deferring $2.5 million in each of the first two years and $2 million in each of the last two, all at 6 percent interest for four years.
"I'm going to be 34 next season," he said. "I'm not a 22-year-old who's going to play another 10 or 12 years and maybe have a couple of chances to go. I want to win now. When I saw they signed (Randy) Johnson, I wanted to be here then for sure."