MLB roundup: A's reach agreement with Kazmir
The Oakland A's reached agreement with left-handed pitcher Scott Kazmir on a two-year, $22 million deal, multiple media outlets reported Monday.
Kazmir, 29, had success with the Tampa Bay Rays from 2005 through 2008, but he struggled after he was traded to the Los Angeles Angels in 2009.
He dropped out of the majors in 2011 and pitched in an independent league.
Kazmir made an impressive comeback with the Cleveland Indians in 2013, going 10-9 with a 4.04 ERA. He was particularly effective in the second half of the season, when his ERA was 3.38.
Reaching an agreement with Kazmir suggests the A's have given up trying to re-sign Bartolo Colon for the 2014 season.
---Catcher Dioner Navarro reached an agreement with the Toronto Blue Jays on a two-year, $8 million contract, FOXSports.com reported Monday.
A switch hitter, Navarro batted .300 with 13 home runs and 34 RBIs in 89 games as a part-time player for the Chicago Cubs in 2013.
---Catcher Chris Stewart was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates from the New York Yankees, who will receive a player to be named later in return.
Stewart was one of five catchers on the 40-man roster for the Yankees after they signed free agent Brian McCann.
Stewart batted .211 with four home runs and 25 RBIs in 109 games with the Yankees in 2013.
---The Yankees re-signed infielder Brendan Ryan to a two-year contract through the 2015 season with a mutual option for 2016, the team announced.
Ryan, 31, joined the Yankees in September in a deal for a player to be named with the Seattle Mariners.
---The Yankees continued to work on trying to sign starting pitcher Hiroki Kuroda to a contract extension, offering him a one-year deal worth $15 million to $16 million, according to ESPN.
---The Detroit Tigers and utility man Don Kelly agreed to a one-year, $1 million deal, MLB.com reported Monday.
By reaching a deal, the two sides avoid arbitration.
Kelly, 33, hit .222 with six homers in 112 games with the Tigers in 2013, when he started 52 games.
---The Atlanta Braves avoided arbitration with reliever Jonny Venters and utility infielder Ramiro Pena by signing them to one-year deals.
