Major League Baseball
Notebook: Vizquel, Giants agree to terms

By The Associated Press and New York Daily News

Ex-Mariner Omar Vizquel has earned 9 Gold Gloves.

E-mail this article Print this article Search archive Most read articles Most e-mailed articles

SAN FRANCISCO — Shortstop Omar Vizquel, a nine-time Gold Glove winner, has agreed to terms with the San Francisco Giants.

Vizquel has a $12.25 million, three-year deal, a person close to the negotiations told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity.

Vizquel, 37, became the first of 207 free agents to join a new team. He filed for free agency last month after Cleveland declined to pick up his $5 million option for 2005. Vizquel, a former Mariner, owns a home in Issaquah.

Vizquel batted .291 and scored 82 runs for Cleveland this year. He did not commit an error over the last 55 games.

Vizquel had said he wanted to return for a 12th season in Cleveland, where he was one of the franchise's most popular players. Shapiro met with Vizquel and his agent, Adam Katz, last month to discuss the possibility of a return, but nothing came of it. Cleveland had to pay Vizquel a $1 million buyout.

San Francisco signed Deivi Cruz, the Giants' primary shortstop last season, to an $800,000, one-year contract earlier this month, but general manager Brian Sabean made it clear he was looking for a different option for the position.

MLB stars end tour of Japan with victory

TOKYO — Vernon Wells went 3 for 4 with a home run, and David Ortiz also hit a homer for the touring major-leaguers in a 5-0 victory over the Japanese All-Stars.

The major-leaguers snapped a three-game losing streak, after winning the first four in a row, and won the eight-game exhibition series 5-3.

Wells was selected the most valuable player of the series. In the seven games he played, Wells hit .407 with two homers.
 
"To play with these guys against the best in Japan has been a blast," said Wells, who plays for the Toronto Blue Jays. "Unfortunately, we made it a close series but we managed to win. We made it entertaining and that's what we're here for."

Over the series, the major-leaguers outscored their hosts 35-19.

The major-league team earned about $1 million on the trip — $500,000 for winning the series plus $100,000 for each victory from sponsors — and the money will be divided among the players and officials. The team members were also reportedly paid $120,000 each to make the trip to Japan by Major League Baseball and the players' association.

Note

• Anaheim Angels owner Arte Moreno has made no secret of his desire to supplant the Los Angeles Dodgers as the "it" team in Southern California. A trade for former L.A. icon Mike Piazza would ratchet up that rivalry.

Anaheim was among several teams Omar Minaya, New York Mets general manager, held talks with at the GM meetings last week in Key Biscayne, Fla. A person familiar with those discussions acknowledged that the Angels had expressed interest in acquiring Piazza from the Mets. Piazza is slated to earn $16 million next year.