Stottlemyre to Get $8 Million a Year

The Arizona Diamondbacks landed the first big free-agent pitcher of the off-season, agreeing Thursday to a $32-million, four-year contract with Todd Stottlemyre.

Stottlemyre, 33, went 9-9 with a 3.51 earned-run average in 23 starts for St. Louis before he was traded to Texas on July 31 along with infielder Royce Clayton for pitcher Darren Oliver and third baseman Fernando Tatis. He then went 5-4 with a 4.33 ERA in 10 starts for the Rangers.

While Arizona made no announcement, the agreement was confirmed by Diamondback chief executive Jerry Colangelo.

Stottlemyre, a right-hander, has a 123-110 record and a 4.23 ERA.

Arizona also has been involved in negotiations with Johnson and outfielder Bernie Williams. Colangelo said those talks will continue.

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Pitcher Scott Radinsky became a former Dodger when the St. Louis Cardinals, looking to remake a team that has struggled for two seasons, signed him and outfielder Eric Davis in addition to making a five-player trade with the Philadelphia Phillies.

The Cardinals sent left fielder Ron Gant, reliever Jeff Brantley and minor league right-hander Cliff Politte to the Phillies for reliever Ricky Bottalico and right-hander Garrett Stephenson. The Cardinals agreed to pay at least $5 million of the $11 million Gant is owed in the next two seasons.

Davis agreed to an $8-million, two-year contract and Radinsky agreed to a $5.5-million, two-year deal.

Radinsky, 6-6 with 13 saves and a 2.63 ERA for the Dodgers, earned $900,000 with the Dodgers last season.

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The annual Freeway Series between the Angels and Dodgers was reduced from three exhibition games to one next season after the Dodgers informed the Angels they were trying to schedule two exhibitions against the World Series-champion New York Yankees for the same weekend.

The Dodgers asked the Angels if they could use them as a standby.

“But that’s an uncomfortable situation for us,” said Tim Mead, Angel vice president of communications.

So the Angels agreed to play the Dodgers in Edison Field on Friday night, April 2, and are looking for opponents--the San Diego Padres are a possibility--for Saturday and Sunday, April 3-4.

Staff Writer Mike DiGiovanna contributed to this story.