Glaus Signs With Arizona

Former Angel third baseman Troy Glaus, apparently convinced that Arizona is in more of a reloading than a rebuilding mode, agreed Thursday to a four-year, $45-million contract with the Diamondbacks, who are hoping Glaus’ potent bat will help fuel an Arizona resurgence in the National League West.

“I didn’t come here to lose,” Glaus said during a news conference in the Diamondbacks’ Bank One Ballpark clubhouse. “I’ve won at every level I’ve played at. I didn’t come here to be in that 95-, 100-loss area. If I believed that was the case, then I wouldn’t be sitting here right now.”

The Diamondbacks, World Series champions in 2001, stumbled to a major league-worst 51-111 record in 2004, trading pitcher Curt Schilling to Boston before the season and dealing center fielder Steve Finley to the Dodgers in July. Their franchise player, pitching ace Randy Johnson, requested a trade to a contender last summer.

The upheaval continued this winter, Arizona hiring Wally Backman as manager, only to fire him four days later and replace him with Bob Melvin when reports of Backman’s legal problems surfaced.

The Diamondbacks apparently believe the healing of Glaus’ surgically repaired right shoulder, an injury that limited him to 91 games in 2003 and 58 games in 2004, will aid their franchise’s healing process.

“We told you that our intent is to be competitive, and we’re going to be,” said Arizona managing partner Ken Kendrick, who promised more moves in the future. “Troy is going to be a cornerstone player for us.”

Glaus, 28, is a three-time All-Star who won World Series most-valuable-player honors in 2002, as the Angels beat the San Francisco Giants. The right-handed batter hit an American League-leading 47 homers with 102 RBIs in 2000 and averaged 35 homers and 109 RBIs over the next two seasons before injuries struck in 2003 and 2004.

But Glaus underwent a medical exam in Phoenix that he said was the most thorough he had experienced and claimed his shoulder was healed.

“It’s fixed,” said Glaus, who chose Arizona over Detroit and Seattle. “Now it’s just a matter of time in the throwing program and things like that, and I’ll be ready for spring training without any doubt.”

Glaus’ power will help Arizona offset the expected loss of first baseman Richie Sexson to free agency and should provide lineup protection for left-handed hitting Luis Gonzalez.

“You have to make pitchers worry,” Diamondback General Manager Joe Garagiola Jr. said. “We didn’t make pitchers worry a lot last year. We made our pitchers worry.”

-- Mike DiGiovanna

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The San Diego Padres agreed to terms with infielder Eric Young on a $1-million, one-year contract. The deal includes an $850,000 option for 2006 with a $1-million buyout. He can earn an additional $700,000 in annual performance bonuses.

Young, 37, batted .288 with 14 stolen bases in 104 games with the Texas Rangers in 2004. He’s fourth among active major leaguers with 450 steals.

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Outfielder Jermaine Dye and the White Sox agreed on a $10.15-million, two-year contract, giving Chicago a replacement for Magglio Ordonez in right field.

Dye hit .265 with 23 home runs and 80 RBIs in 137 games with Oakland last season.

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Julio Franco decided to remain with the Atlanta Braves, who agreed to a $1-million, one-year contract with the 46-year-old first baseman.

Franco, part of a platoon with rookie Adam LaRoche last season, hit .309, the highest average in major league history for a player at least 43 years old.

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The Florida Marlins have met with Las Vegas officials about a possible move, saying negotiations for a new ballpark in Miami have lasted longer than the team anticipated.

Bruce Rubin, a spokesman for Marlin owner Jeffrey Loria, said Marlin officials met with Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman and others for about 90 minutes Wednesday.

“These were social discussions, a get-to-know-each-other meeting,” Rubin said. “Simply, Vegas wants a baseball team and the Marlins are a baseball team. It was decided that the two sides should get together.”