Alou Is a Cub and Sosa Is Happy

Sammy Sosa might want a little payback after everything he did to lure Moises Alou to the Chicago Cubs.

Call it a recruitment bonus.

“Tell Moises he’s got to pay me some interest, a percentage,” Sosa said, laughing.

Alou certainly has the money now. The free-agent outfielder finalized a $27-million, three-year deal with the Cubs on Wednesday, ending negotiations that included numerous phone calls from Sosa.

Alou, 35, led the NL in batting for most of the season before finishing tied for third with a .331 average. The four-time all-star had 27 home runs and 108 runs batted in for the Houston Astros.

He is a career .306 hitter.

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To free up more money to sign Alou, the Cubs traded outfielder Michael Tucker to the Kansas City Royals for a player to be named.

Tucker batted .252 with 12 homers and 61 RBIs for the Cincinnati Reds and the Cubs last season.

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The Boston Red Sox acquired second baseman Pokey Reese from Colorado for catcher Scott Hatteberg, and also signed free-agent pitcher John Burkett.

Reese was traded for the second time in two days. On Tuesday, Reese and pitcher Dennys Reyes were sent by the Reds to the Rockies for pitchers Gabe White and Luke Hudson.

Burkett, 37, and the Red Sox agreed on an $11-million, two-year deal. He was 12-12 with a 3.04 earned-run average for the Atlanta Braves last season.

Hatteberg, 32, batted .245 with three home runs and 25 RBIs.

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Free-agent reliever Jeff Shaw, who had 43 saves for the Dodgers last season, is considering retirement after the Reds rejected his proposal for a one-year contract.

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Right-hander Kevin Jarvis agreed to a $9-million, three-year deal to remain with the San Diego Padres. Jarvis led the Padres with 12 victories and 133 strikeouts.... Right-hander Dave Burba agreed to a $2-million, one-year contract with Texas, and John Rocker signed a $2.5-million, one-year deal. Burba, 35, was 10-10 with Cleveland....Outfielder Benny Agbayani agreed to a $600,000, one-year contract with the New York Mets. Agbayani batted .277 with six homers.... Seattle Mariner outfielder Jay Buhner, 37, retired after 15 seasons. He batted .254 with 310 home runs and 965 RBIs in his career.... Red radio broadcaster Joe Nuxhall, 73, was released from a hospital where he was taken after having a heart attack Monday night.