Blake seeks three-year contract with Twins, Dodgers

By STAFF and WIRE REPORTS

Last update: December 3, 2008 - 11:13 PM

The Twins have offered free agent third baseman Casey Blake a two-year contract worth about $6 million per season with an option for 2011, but Blake wants the third year guaranteed, a person with knowledge of the negotiations told the Star Tribune on Tuesday.

ESPN reported the Twins and Dodgers have basically been told they will get Blake if they are willing to add a third year to their two-year contract offers.

Blake made $6.1 million this year while batting .274 with 21 home runs and 81 RBI between the Indians and Dodgers. He turns 36 next Aug. 23 but has averaged 598 plate appearances over the past six seasons.

The Twins have been aggressive in pursuing Blake, hoping to seal a deal before the winter meetings.

JOE CHRISTENSEN

Red Sox give Pedroia $40.5 million extension

Boston second baseman Dustin Pedroia agreed Wednesday to a $40.5 million, six-year contract that could keep with the Red Sox through at least 2014.

"I wanted to be here a long time," said Pedroia, 25. "Hopefully in the next six years we can win some championships."

Heading into his third year in the majors, the 5-9 second baseman has joined Cal Ripken Jr. and Ryan Howard as the only players in baseball history to follow a Rookie of the Year Award with an MVP. Pedroia led the AL with 213 hits, 118 runs and 54 doubles while batting .326 with 17 home runs, 83 RBI and 20 stolen bases. He is the first AL second baseman to win the MVP award since Nellie Fox in 1959 with the Chicago White Sox.

The Red Sox effectively bought out Pedroia's arbitration years and his first two years of free agency (2013-14); there is also a club option for 2015 that is voided if he's traded.

Etc.

• Oft-injured Mike Hampton finalized a one-year, $2 million deal with Houston, hoping to resurrect his career in the place where he became a prominent big league pitcher. The contract includes $2 million in performance bonuses. Hampton, 36, sat out the 2006 and '07 seasons and made only 13 starts for Atlanta this year.

• San Francisco took another step to bolster its bullpen, agreeing a $2.75 million, one-year contract with free agent righthander Bobby Howry. Howry, 35, was drafted by the Giants in 1994 but traded to the White Sox in 1997 as part of the "White Flag Trade" that sent Danny Darwin, Roberto Hernandez and Wilson Alvarez from Chicago to the Giants.

• Tampa Bay closer Troy Percival had back surgery this week and is expected to be ready to return to the AL champions before Opening Day.

• Free agent infielder Russell Branyan agreed to a $1.4 million, one-year deal with Seattle. He was with Milwaukee in 2008.

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