The Tampa Bay Rays added a big bat for the middle of their batting order, as the American League champions agreed to a two-year, $16 million contract with Pat Burrell.
Burrell, 32, spent the past nine seasons with the Philadelphia Phillies, who defeated the Rays in the World Series a little over two months ago.
"At the end of last year, obviously I got a chance to know the team pretty well," said Burrell, who hit .250 with 33 home runs, 33 doubles, 86 RBIs and 102 walks in a career-high 157 games in 2008.
A left fielder throughout his career, Burrell is expected to be used mostly as the designated hitter with Tampa Bay.
One of the Rays' top priorities was to add a right-handed power hitter to a lineup also featuring Carlos Pena, Evan Longoria, B.J. Upton and Carl Crawford.
Cubs: : Chicago and free agent Milton Bradley reached a preliminary agreement on a three-year, $30 million contract, a person familiar with the negotiations told the Associated Press. The deal is subject to a physical scheduled for Thursday.
Adding Bradley was one of the top priorities this offseason for the Cubs, who got swept out of the playoffs for the second straight year after a lineup loaded with right-handers struggled against the Dodgers.
A switch-hitter, Bradley batted .321 with 22 homers for Texas while leading the AL with a .436 on-base percentage. He made the All-Star team while serving primarily as the DH.
Angels: : Manager Mike Scioscia has agreed in principle to a contract extension that will take him through at least the 2014 season.
Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but general manager Tony Reagins said Scioscia, already the longest-tenured manager in the AL, "will be around for a long, long time."
Scioscia's current deal, believed to pay him about $1.75 million annually, ran through 2009 and included a club option for 2010. The 50-year-old former Dodgers catcher signed that contract more than a year before his previous deal expired.
Cardinals: : Still looking for a closer, St. Louis might consider turning to oft-injured ace Chris Carpenter next season.
Manager Tony La Russa said he would think about using the 2005 National League Cy Young Award winner in that role if it were the best way to keep him on the mound.
Carpenter made only four appearances last season after reconstructive elbow surgery and underwent another procedure in November to transpose an elbow nerve that was causing irritation.
Reports on Carpenter have been positive so far. A timetable for a throwing program will be determined after a checkup next week.
Also, Royce Ring became the third left-hander in St. Louis' bullpen, agreeing to a one-year, $475,000 contract.
Rangers: : Former All-Star pitcher Derrick Turnbow agreed to a minor league contract with Texas along with fellow right-handers Casey Daigle and Elizardo Ramirez.