MLB roundup: Fielder introduced as a Tiger

Prince Fielder never thought it could happen, but it did.

The Prince appeared at a Comerica Park news conference to announce his $214 million, nine-year contract, the fourth-largest deal in baseball history.

"It's awesome," Fielder said. "I really don't know what to say. I just never thought this could happen, and it's happening now. It's an awesome moment. ... It's a really special day."

The Tigers moved quickly to fill the void left by Victor Martinez's season-ending left knee injury, and unveiled a new face of the organization in the process.

General manager Dave Dombrowski called it "a very exciting time for this city."

Fielder will earn $23 million in each of his first two years, then $24 million annually in the final seven. This is a different structure than the backloaded $240 million, 10-year contract Albert Pujols signed with the Los Angeles Angels last month. Pujols' deal pays starts relatively low, and accelerates in the third year.

Thursday's introduction came less than two weeks after Dombrowski held a conference call to discuss short-term options to replace Martinez. Fielder seemed an unlikely fit, but that changed amid owner Mike Ilitch's desire to win now.

"It came about when Martinez got injured and we sat down, Dave and I and some of the other key people in the organization, about how we're going to handle this," Ilitch said. "I got a little dizzy because this person would move here and this person would move here ... and I got to thinking, and I said, 'You know, they're all going to have pressure on them to match that .320 batting average and 100 RBIs [from Martinez]. They're going to feel pressure to fill in that slot. I don't want to run into that.' I was telling Dave I'd feel a lot better if we could just totally solve it, then when [Martinez] gets back, I think we'll have a very, very explosive team. That's really how it got going."

---Free agent closer Brad Lidge signed a one-year, $1 million deal with the Washington Nationals.

Lidge, 35, appeared in 25 games in 2011 because of a right rotator cuff injury, but posted a 1.40 ERA. The Phillies didn't offer him arbitration.

The Phillies' former closer, who went 48-for-48 during the team's 2008 World Series Championship season, will join Tyler Clippard to help setup for closer Drew Storen.

---Outfielder Jonny Gomes has agreed to a one-year contract with the Oakland Athletics.

Gomes, 31, who grew up in nearby Petaluma, hit .209 with 14 homers and 43 RBIs last year for Cincinnati and Washington.

He brings outfield depth to the team, and joins Coco Crisp and new acquisitions Josh Reddick and Seth Smith.

---The New York Mets, once of baseball's free-spending, big-market teams, could wind up with the largest one-year payroll trimming in Major League Baseball history, according to an ESPN.com report.

General manager Sandy Alderson told the website that the team lost $70 million last season, and is poised to slash about $52 million from their payroll. This would pass the $48.4 million sliced by the Texas Rangers from 2003 to 2004, according to ESPN.

The Mets finished at about $143 million last season. They are expected to be below $91 million come Opening Day, according to ESPN.com.

---The Los Angeles Dodgers were one of the teams that made a run at Prince Fielder and thought they had a good chance of landing him, according to a CBSSports.com report.

The Dodgers, who are in the process of being sold, offered seven years and about $160 million that would've allowed Fielder to opt out after four seasons, according to the report. Fielder would've earned about $26 million for the first four years.

Fielder had met with team representatives a few weeks ago and outgoing owner Frank McCourt approved a proposal.

---The Cleveland Indians have placed Roberto Hernandez Heredia, also known as Fausto Carmona, on the restricted list, according to a report in The Cleveland Plain-Dealer, via Twitter.

The move clears a space on the team's 40-man roster, and Heredia won't gain service time or a salary until he joins the team.

Heredia's true age and identity was revealed last week. He was released by a Dominican court last week, but it's uncertain whether he will obtain a visa in time for Spring Training or the regular season.

---The Red Sox announced the signing of outfielder Cody Ross to a one-year deal on Thursday.

Ross will earn about $3 million plus incentives, according to multiple reports.

Ross spent time at all three outfield positions with the San Francisco Giants last season and batted .240 with 14 home runs in 461 plate appearances. He could wind up in a right-field platoon with Ryan Sweeney.

--- Closer Andrew Bailey and the Boston Red Sox agreed to terms on a one-year, $3.9 million contract, avoiding an arbitration hearing.

Bailey asked for $4.7 million, while the team offered $3.35 million. The Red Sox acquired Bailey from the Oakland Athletics this winter with outfielder Ryan Sweeney for Josh Reddick and two minor-leaguers.

Bailey converted 24 of 26 save chances and posted a 3.24 ERA in 2011.

--- The Yankees officially announced the signing of right-handed starting pitcher Hiroki Kuroda to a one-year deal. Kuroda, who turns 37 in February, was 13-16 with a 3.07 ERA in 32 starts for the Dodgers last season. He signed for $10 million.

---The Yankees avoided arbitration with their lone remaining eligible player, signing left-handed reliever Boone Logan to a one-year, $1.87 million contract. Logan, 27, had a 3.46 earned-run average last season.

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