MLB roundup: Dickey agrees to extension; trade with Toronto set to go
The Toronto Blue Jays have struck a deal with National League Cy Young Award winner R.A. Dickey on a two-year, $25 million contract extension that paves the way for an anticipated six-player trade with the New York Mets to be finalized.
The money in the deal, which will run through the 2015 season, will be comparable to the two-year, $26 million extension he sought from the Mets before negotiations broke down, according to multiple sources.
The new deal will include a signing bonus and front-loaded money in the contract to offset tax differences, ESPN.com and Fox Sports reported. Dickey's 2013 contract is $5 million.
Included in the trade will be highly regarded Blue Jays catching prospect Travis d'Arnaud, Class A right-hander Noah Syndergaard and another minor leaguer going to the Mets, ESPN.com reported Monday. In addition, the team will swap catches, with Josh Thole going to Toronto and John Buck to the Mets.
The Blue Jays also will throw in cash to offset Buck's $6 million salary.
---Shortstop Stephen Drew has signed a one-year, $9.5 million contract with the Boston Red Sox, according to multiple reports.
The deal includes $500,000 in performances bonuses for the free agent.
Drew, 29, became available when the Oakland Athletics rejected a $10 million mutual option on his contract in October. Instead, Drew received a $1.35 million buyout on his A's contract.
In 39 regular-season games with Oakland in 2012, Drew hit .250 with five homers.
---The Minnesota Twins have reached agreement on a one-year, $4 million contract with pitcher Mike Pelfrey.
The deal, which will be finalized when Pelfrey passes a physical, includes $1.5 million in performances bonuses, ESPN.com and CBSSports.com reported. Pelfrey made $5.7 million this past season with the New York Mets.
The right-hander was limited to three starts last season for the New York Mets. He underwent Tommy John surgery on May 1 and was sidelined the rest of the year.
---Veteran Carlos Pena has agreed to sign a one-year, $2.9 million contact with the Houston Astros.
The deal includes $1.4 million in incentives, CBSSports.com reported Monday.
The Astros plan to use Pena as a designated hitter in their first year of American League play.
Pena, 34, hit .197 with 19 home runs and 61 RBIs for Tampa Bay in his second stint with the Rays last season.
---Tampa Bay Rays minor league outfielder Cody Rogers has received a 50-game suspension without pay for refusing to take an off-season drug test, Major League Baseball announced Monday.
Refusing to take a drug test is a violation of the Minor League Drug Prevention and Treatment Program.
