A’s Acquire Durazo in 4-Team Deal

The hot-stove league finally heated up Sunday after a cold start as many clubs made moves, including a four-team trade and major free-agent signing that highlighted a dizzying day at the baseball winter meetings.

The Arizona Diamondbacks, Cincinnati Reds, Oakland Athletics and Toronto Blue Jays completed a deal that could help the Diamondbacks hold off the Dodgers in the National League West next season. Arizona acquired the starter it wanted to bolster a rotation that includes Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling, getting right-hander Elmer Dessens from the Reds for first baseman Erubiel Durazo.

Cincinnati sent the left-handed-batting Durazo to Oakland for middle infielder Felipe Lopez, whom the Athletics got from Toronto for a player to be named after today’s Rule 5 draft.

Dessens was 7-8 with a 3.03 earned run average in 30 starts and is 30-35 with a 4.29 ERA in four-plus seasons.

“We see him as a solid No. 3 starter, and his acquisition creates a lot of flexibility for us,” Arizona General Manager Joe Garagiola Jr. said. “It takes a lot of pressure off the whole staff.”

Oakland General Manager Billy Beane finally acquired Durazo after pursuing him for three years, the Reds accomplished their objective of trimming payroll and the Blue Jays are expected to receive a pitching prospect.

“This was the guy we wanted,” Beane said of Durazo, expected to be Oakland’s full-time designated hitter. “It’s almost comical. Durazo has almost been my Holy Grail for three years. He’s our type of guy.”

The San Francisco Giants got things rolling in the free-agent market, signing infielder Edgardo Alfonzo, which added another twist to infielder Jeff Kent’s strange ride that could still end in San Francisco. Meanwhile, the Montreal Expos moved closer to completing payroll-trimming trades, creating a ripple-effect of transactions as teams drop out of contention.

“It’s a process and these things take time,” Montreal General Manager Omar Minaya said. “I’ve met with 20-something teams and we’re not done.”

The Dodgers were not as active as their NL West competitors, but did sign middle infielder Quilvio Veras, who last played in the major leagues for the Atlanta Braves in 2001, to a minor league contract for $500,000, and were working to acquire Florida Marlin outfielder Abraham Nunez for a prospect, baseball officials said. The Dodgers signed Veras as an insurance policy for top prospect Joe Thurston, expected to start at second base, and believe Nunez could provide outfield depth.

And, in an intriguing development, Dodger General Manager Dan Evans and Texas GM John Hart have discussed parameters of a deal that would send All-Star outfielder Juan Gonzalez to the Dodgers. Right-hander Andy Ashby is believed to be the centerpiece of a multiplayer package the Rangers would receive in exchange for Gonzalez, a two-time American League MVP.

Although Gonzalez was limited to 70 games last season because of hand injuries, he might be a good fit for the Dodgers because of his relatively cost-effective contract and history of strong production. The right-handed-batting Gonzalez could provide balance in the batting order, helping overburdened left-handed-batting slugger Shawn Green.

Gonzalez is scheduled to receive $12 million, of which $4.5 million is deferred with 2% compound interest, in the final year of a two-year deal. Ashby is under contract for $8 million in 2003, and has an $8.5-million option for 2004 that will vest if he pitches at least 168 1/3 innings.

The Dodgers probably would move Green from right field to first base to accommodate Gonzalez if he agreed to waive his-no trade clause. Ashby also has a limited no-trade clause.

Free agent Cliff Floyd, considered unlikely to sign with the Dodgers because of their luxury-tax concerns, apparently is on the verge of accepting arbitration and returning to the Boston Red Sox for a one-year contract. The Red Sox also acquired Jeremy Giambi, sending pitching prospect Josh Hancock to the Philadelphia Phillies.

Evans also has had two meetings with the agent for free-agent first baseman Fred McGriff, but has not discussed contract terms.

“We’re just waiting to see what happens right now,” McGriff said from his home in Tampa, Fla. The Giants had a day of mixed emotions.

Alfonzo, an All-Star in 2000 with the New York Mets, received a four-year, $26-million contract to join the Giants, continuing the off-season makeover of the NL champions that soon might include the departure of Kent. Unable to reach an agreement with the 2000 NL MVP after another lengthy negotiating session Sunday, the Giants finalized an agreement with Alfonzo to replace David Bell, who signed with the Philadelphia Phillies, redirecting dollars that could have gone to signing Kent.

Although already over budget with the signing of Alfonzo, the Giants plan to continue discussions with Kent’s agent, Jeff Klein, about a multiyear contract, and Kent has until Thursday to accept arbitration.

Kent had a salary of $6 million last season and could receive more than $12 million in arbitration, causing further payroll problems for the Giants.

Club officials believe Kent won’t accept arbitration, which they offered to receive draft picks as compensation if he signs with another team, but the current climate isn’t favorable for high-priced free agents. With a projected opening-day payroll of about $74 million, the Giants would move to trade two or three players if Kent determines that returning to San Francisco on a one-year deal is his best option.

“Anything’s possible right now,” Sabean said. “We knew that going in when we offered it to him.”

Also Sunday, the New York Mets traded shortstop Rey Ordonez, a three-time Gold Glove winner, to the Tampa Bay Devil Rays for two players to be named.