Baseball Notes: Mets, Jays reach deal on Dickey

NEW YORK - R.A. Dickey and the Blue Jays agreed to a new contract Monday, clearing the way for the New York Mets to trade the NL Cy Young winner to a Toronto team that's spending a lot of money trying to join baseball's elite.

A person familiar with the deal told the Associated Press the trade could be completed once the 38-year-old knuckleballer passes a physical. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because neither team made an announcement.

The Mets would receive top catching prospect Travis d'Arnaud as the centerpiece of the multiplayer swap.

New York also would get catcher John Buck, minor-league pitcher Noah Syndergaard and cash. There was speculation Toronto would receive catchers Josh Thole and Mike Nickeas.

Dickey was already signed for $5.25 million next year. The Mets began to look at trade possibilities for the 20-game winner when the sides couldn't agree to extend his deal for two more seasons. Multiple reports say the reworked contract adds two years and $25 million to his existing deal.

Dickey was 20-6 with a 2.73 ERA last season.

D'Arnaud turns 24 in February. He hit .333 at triple-A Las Vegas with 16 homers and 52 RBIs before tearing a knee ligament trying to break up a double play in June, resulting in season-ending surgery.

Tigers invest in Sanchez. The Detroit Tigers have agreed to a five-year contract with righthanded pitcher Anibal Sanchez. The team didn't disclose financial terms, but a person familiar with it told the Associated Press last week on condition of anonymity that the deal is worth $80 million.

Sanchez helped Detroit reach the World Series this year. He had a 1.77 ERA in 201/3 innings over three postseason starts, but was 1-2 because the Tigers were shut out in each of his losses. He is 48-51 with a 3.75 ERA since making his major-league debut with the Marlins in 2006.

Swisher visits Indians. Free agent Nick Swisher is visiting the Cleveland Indians, who have a hole to fill in right field.

Swisher, who won a World Series in his first of four seasons with the New York Yankees in 2009, was scheduled to arrive in Cleveland on Monday night and tour the team's facilities on Tuesday. Swisher is a career .256 hitter in stops with the Athletics, White Sox and Yankees.

Astros add Pena. The Houston Astros signed veteran Carlos Pena to be their designated hitter. The 34-year-old Pena hit .197 with 19 home runs and 61 RBIs in 2012. Terms were not released.