Mets Sign Appier, Trachsel to Bolster Pitching Rotation

The New York Mets rounded out their pitching rotation Monday, signing free agents Kevin Appier and Steve Trachsel.

Appier completed a $42-million, four-year contract, giving the Mets the big-name pitcher that had previously eluded them this off-season.

“New York is a very exciting city,” Appier said. “You can’t get a bigger stage than that. If we do great, that’s only better. I’m glad to have the opportunity.”

The Mets would not confirm Trachsel’s deal, but a source with knowledge of the deal said it would be for $7 million over two years with a chance to make $3 million more in incentives.

The Baltimore Orioles also wanted Appier, and seemed prepared to offer even more than the Mets, but the right-hander chose New York.

The Mets zeroed in on Appier after finding out Friday that free agent Mike Hampton had walked away from the team to take a record $121 million, eight-year contract with the Colorado Rockies. New York also lost out on Mike Mussina, who signed with the Yankees, and Denny Neagle, who went to Colorado.

“That was part of our strategy,” Appier said. “Hampton took longer than we thought and I didn’t know if we would keep waiting.”

The Mets also acquired reliever Donne Wall from San Diego for outfielder Bubba Trammell and signed Tsuyoshi Shinjo, a free-agent outfielder in Japan, to a $700,000, one-year contract.

Appier was 15-11 with a 4.52 ERA in 195 1/3 innings for AL West champion Oakland last season. Trachsel went 8-15 with a 4.80 ERA for Tampa Bay and Toronto. He was traded to the Blue Jays in July.

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Jason Bere reached a preliminary deal with the Chicago Cubs that would pay him $4.5 million for two years.

The Cubs did not announce the deal at baseball’s winter meetings. But a source with knowledge of the contract, speaking on the condition he not be identified, said it would be completed as soon as a few final details are resolved.

Bere went 12-10 with a 5.47 ERA last season for Milwaukee and Cleveland, his first year with double-digit wins since 1994.

The Cubs, who lost out on Mike Hampton to the Colorado Rockies, were desperate to add another starting pitcher. Their rotation for 2001 includes Kerry Wood, Jon Lieber, Kevin Tapani and Julian Tavarez, who signed a $5 million, two-year deal last month.

Also Monday, the Cubs selected right-hander Scott Chiasson from Oakland with the first pick in the major league draft.

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Houston and Detroit completed a six-player deal with Roger Cedeno going to the Tigers and Brad Ausmus heading back to the Astros.

Detroit also acquired catcher Mitch Meluskey and right-hander Chris Holt. The Tigers sent relievers Doug Brocail and Nelson Cruz to Houston.

“Going into the offseason our priority was to improve our pitching staff,” Astro General Manager Gerry Hunsicker said. “We feel we took significant strides to do that with this trade. Brad Ausmus helped us win two divisions in Houston. Reacquiring him adds to our pitching immediately. He is one of the best catchers in baseball.”

Ausmus, 31, was traded by the Astros to Detroit in a seven-player deal after the 1998 season. He spent two years in Houston. He is known as one of the top defensive catchers in the game.

The Tigers were looking for speed to cover the spacious outfield in Comerica Park and a possible replacement if Juan Gonzalez leaves through free agency.

Cedeno, who missed nearly two months with a broken right wrist last season, hit .282 with 54 runs and 25 stolen bases in 259 at-bats for Houston. He had a .383 on-base percentage and will likely be used as a leadoff hitter in Detroit.

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The Kansas City Royals signed free-agent reliever Doug Henry to a two-year contract with a club option for a third season, the team said.

Financial terms were not disclosed.

Henry, 37, began last season with the Houston Astros and was traded to the San Francisco Giants in July for pitcher Scott Linebrink. The right-handed Henry finished the year with a 4-4 record and a 3.79 earned run average in 72 relief appearances.

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The Chicago White Sox sent right-hander Mark Roberts to the Florida Marlins to complete a trade from last month.

Florida sent infielder Amaury Garcia to Chicago on Nov. 28, for a player to be named. Roberts, 25, was a combined 13-5 with a 2.90 ERA at double-A Birmingham and triple-A Charlotte in 2000.

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The triple-A World Series will not be held next season because of poor attendance.

For the past three seasons, the champion of the International League had played the champion of the Pacific Coast League.

The National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues said it will try to find a new format to implement in 2002.