Mets Continue Upgrade With Floyd

The New York Mets have added a big bat to go with their upgraded pitching staff, agreeing in principle with Cliff Floyd on a $26 million, four-year contract Friday.

Floyd, who declined salary arbitration from the Boston Red Sox on Thursday night, must pass a physical today to make the deal official.

Floyd batted .288 with 28 homers, 43 doubles and 79 runs batted in last season for Boston, Montreal and Florida. He had a .388 on-base percentage and slugged .533.

The Mets also learned that third baseman Norihiro Nakamura shunned their $7 million, two-year offer to remain in Japan, re-signing with the Kintetsu Buffaloes for a reported $30 million over five years.

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The Philadelphia Phillies acquired right-hander Kevin Millwood from the Atlanta Braves for catcher Johnny Estrada.

Millwood was 18-8 with a 3.24 earned-run average last season, helping the Braves win an unprecedented 11th straight division title.

Estrada, 26, spent almost all of last season at triple-A Scranton Wilkes Barre.

He hit .279 with 11 homers and 67 RBIs.

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Matt Herges, a former Dodger reliever, was traded by the Montreal Expos to the Pittsburgh Pirates for pitching prospects Chris Young and Jon Searles.

Herges, 32, was 2-5 with a 4.04 ERA and six saves in 62 appearances with Montreal last season.

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Black Entertainment Television founder Robert Johnson hired Lehman Brothers Inc. to help him buy a major league team and move it to Washington, a Lehman banker said. Lehman advised Johnson on his pursuit of an NBA expansion franchise in Charlotte, N.C, which he was granted Wednesday.

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Sandy Alomar Jr. signed a $700,000 deal with the Chicago White Sox.... Shortstop Mike Bordick agreed to a $1 million deal with Toronto.... Left-hander Shawn Estes finalized a $3 million deal with the Chicago Cubs.... Charles Nagy signed a minor league deal with the San Diego Padres.... Tiger All-Star outfielder Robert Fick became a free agent when Detroit did not offer him a contract for 2003. Others who became free agents included: Toronto outfielder Jose Cruz Jr., New York Yankee outfielder Shane Spencer and Boston first baseman Brian Daubach.... Several players agreed to deals ahead of Friday’s deadline to offer 2003 contracts to unsigned players on 40-man rosters, including Florida infielders Luis Castillo ($4.85 million) and Alex Gonzalez ($1.7 million), Cub catcher Paul Bako ($750,000), Milwaukee left-hander Valerio De Los Santos ($925,000) and San Francisco left-hander Scott Eyre ($725,000).... Cub broadcaster Ron Santo underwent surgery Friday to have his left leg amputated below the knee, WGN-AM radio reported. Santo, 62, discussed his surgery in an interview on the station earlier, saying the procedure was necessary because of complications from diabetes.