Gonzalez Goes to Kansas City, Alomar to Arizona

Two-time American League most valuable player Juan Gonzalez agreed Tuesday to a one-year contract with the Kansas City Royals that guarantees him $4.5 million.

Kansas City gained a proven power hitter -- if he can stay healthy. Injuries limited Gonzalez to 152 games over the last two seasons, but General Manager Allard Baird said the team is not worried about the durability of the 34-year-old outfielder.

“I went out to Arizona and watched him work out for two days,” Baird said. “I think he’s in great shape ... and I feel very comfortable with him being ready to go.”

The free agent gets $4 million next season, and the deal includes a mutual option for 2005 at $7 million. If the Royals decline the option, Gonzalez would receive a $500,000 buyout.

In addition, he can earn $2 million in incentives this year and $1.5 million in 2005.

Last year, Gonzalez played in 82 games, hitting .294 with 24 homers and 70 runs batted in before a calf injury ended his season.

“At the major league level, numbers don’t lie,” Baird said. “What he did in half a season last year is pretty impressive.”

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Twelve-time All-Star Roberto Alomar agreed to a $1-million, one-year contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks.

The deal represents a huge salary cut for the free-agent second baseman, who has slumped badly in recent years. Alomar earned $8 million in 2003, the final season of a deal he signed with Cleveland in 1998 and was worth $37 million over five years.

Alomar, 35, split his 16th season between the New York Mets and the Chicago White Sox, who acquired him July 1. He began his career with San Diego and played for Toronto, Baltimore and Cleveland before the Indians sent him to the Mets as part of an eight-player trade in December 2001.

Alomar, a switch hitter, batted .336 with 20 homers and 100 RBIs his last year with Cleveland.

But he hit .266 in 2002, his lowest since his rookie season in 1988. He batted .262 last year with the Mets and .253 in 67 games with the White Sox to finish under .300 in consecutive seasons for the first time since 1990 and 1991.

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Shortstop Orlando Cabrera agreed to a $6-million, one-year contract with the Montreal Expos, avoiding salary arbitration.

Cabrera, who made $3.3 million last year, played in all 162 games and was selected the Expos’ MVP for the second time in three seasons. He had his best offensive season, establishing career highs in batting average (.297), hits (186), doubles (47), homers (17) and runs (95). He led the team with 80 RBIs.

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Closer Danys Baez finalized his $6.5-million, two-year contract with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.

The former Indian reliever was 2-9 with a 3.81 earned-run average and 25 saves but lost his closer’s job to rookie David Riske late last season. He was released last month in a cost-saving move after earning $4 million in 2003.

Tampa Bay also agreed to a $650,000, one-year contract with left-handed reliever Trever Miller, pending completion of a physical examination today.

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The Oakland Athletics re-signed infielder Frank Menechino to a one-year, $400,000 contract and designated infielder Jose Flores for assignment.