The San Francisco Giants reached a preliminary agreement with free-agent infielder Mark DeRosa on a two-year contract, adding a key bat to the middle of their order. Giants spokesman Jim Moorehead said that DeRosa passed a physical yesterday and the team planned to formally announce his deal today.
Also yesterday, the Arizona Diamondbacks signed reliever Bob Howry to a one-year contract with a club option for 2011, and the New York Mets announced they had signed right-hander Kelvim Escobar to a one-year contract.
The addition of DeRosa could be a significant upgrade for the Giants' lineup. DeRosa, 35, likely will play third, moving slugger Pablo Sandoval to first and giving the Giants more power and offensive punch at that position.DeRosa had left-wrist surgery after the 2009 season, when he batted .250 with a career-best 23 homers to go along with 78 RBIs for Cleveland and St. Louis.
San Francisco also is working to complete a contract to bring back infielder Juan Uribe.
Howry, a 36-year-old right-hander, was 2-6 with a 3.39 ERA in 63 appearances with the San Francisco Giants last season. Right-handed batters hit just .207 against him.
Howry has a 44-49 career record in parts of 12 seasons with the Chicago White Sox, Boston, Cleveland, Chicago Cubs and San Francisco.
Howry grew up in the Phoenix area. Terms of the contract weren't disclosed.
Escobar, an 18-game winner in 2007, missed nearly all of the past two seasons with the Los Angeles Angels because of shoulder trouble. If healthy, he would likely work out of the bullpen for the Mets, who are looking for setup help for All-Star closer Francisco Rodriguez. He was expected to get $1.25 million.
Escobar, 33, has extensive relief experience from his days in Toronto. He came up with the Blue Jays in 1997 and saved 38 games in 2002.
Escobar was cleared a few weeks ago to pitch by Mets medical director Dr. David Altchek, who performed shoulder surgery on Escobar in July 2008.
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