Jenks agrees to Sox change
Former Chicago White Sox closer Bobby Jenks has agreed to a 2-year, $12 million contract with the Boston Red Sox, a source told the Associated Press.
Former Chicago White Sox closer Bobby Jenks has agreed to a 2-year, $12 million contract with the Boston Red Sox, a source told the
Associated Press
.
In addition, the Red Sox agreed to a 1-year, $875,000 contract with righthanded reliever Matt Albers and sent utilityman Eric Patterson to the San Diego Padres to complete the trade for first baseman Adrian Gonzalez.
Jenks has the chance to earn more with performance bonuses. He saved 27 games last season but lost his closing job at the end of the year when he struggled with injuries.
Jenks was second in White Sox history with 173 saves since joining Chicago midseason in 2005 and helping the club win its first World Series since 1917. He had four saves in the postseason, pitching in all four Series games during a sweep of the Houston Astros.
Jenks saved 81 games over the next 2 years. But last season, when he earned $7.5 million, he missed the final 27 games with ulnar neuritis in his right forearm. General manager Kenny Williams said he would consider bringing Jenks back at a lower salary.
Albers was 5-3 with a 4.52 ERA in 62 appearances with Baltimore last season. His deal guarantees him $400,000.
Noteworthy
* Righthander Kerry Wood is going back to the Chicago Cubs on a 1-year deal with a base guarantee of $1.5 million, a source told the AP. The 33-year-old was the NL Rookie of the Year with the Cubs in 1998 and nearly helped pitch them into the 2003 World Series. Wood, whose career has been slowed by injuries, split last season with Cleveland and the Yankees. He is expected to be a late-inning reliever in Chicago.
* Oakland acquired Josh Willingham from Washington for a pair of prospects, righthanded reliever Henry Rodriguez and outfielder Corey Brown. The A's, who had trouble scoring this year, have added Willingham and David DeJesus to their outfield in the offseason. Willingham hit .268 with 16 homers and 56 RBI for the Nationals.
* Magglio Ordonez and the Detroit Tigers agreed on a 1-year, $10 million contract, a person familiar with the deal told the AP. Detroit declined Ordonez' $15 million option in October, but wanted the six-time All-Star outfielder back if he recovered from a season-ending ankle injury in July. Ordonez turns 37 next month. He hit .303 with 12 homers and 59 RBI in 84 games last season.
* Minnesota reached a preliminary agreement with Japanese batting champion Tsuyoshi Nishioka on a 3-year contract worth about $10 million, a person familiar with the negotiations told the AP. He hit .346 last season in Japan. Nishioka can play shortstop or second base, and the Twins have a need for middle infielders after J.J. Hardy was traded and Orlando Hudson became a free agent. Minnesota also traded backup catcher Jose Morales to Colorado for minor league lefthander Paul Bargas.
* The Los Angeles Dodgers finalized a 3-year, $12 million contract with righthanded reliever Matt Guerrier, who has spent his entire 7-year career with Minnesota. The Twins didn't offer him a contract for 2011. Last season, the 32-year-old went 5-7 with one save and a 3.17 ERA in a team-leading 74 games.
* Looking for a lefty in the bullpen, the New York Yankees are trying to close a deal for free agent Pedro Feliciano. Also, the Yankees completed a contract with former All-Star catcher Russell Martin.
* Cleveland agreed to terms with infielder Adam Everett on a minor league deal.
* Toronto brought back designated hitter-first baseman Edwin Encarnacion.