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Rodriguez completes $275-million deal with Yankees

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From the Associated Press

Alex Rodriguez set another record for baseball’s highest contract, finalizing his $275-million, 10-year agreement with the New York Yankees on Thursday.

Rodriguez, 32, set the previous mark with his $252-million, 10-year deal with Texas in December 2000.

Traded to the Yankees in 2004, he opted out of that contract Oct. 28, during the final game of the World Series.

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His new deal allows Rodriguez to earn $30 million more for achieving historic milestones. He is 18th on the career list with 518 homers, 244 shy of Barry Bonds’ record.

Rodriguez gets a $10 million signing bonus, of which $2 million is payable upon approval, $1 million each Jan. 15 from 2009 to 2013 and $3 million on Jan. 15, 2014.

Rodriguez receives salaries of $27 million next year, $32 million in 2009 and 2010, $31 million in 2011, $29 million in 2012, $28 million in 2013, $25 million in 2014, $21 million in 2015 and $20 million in each of the final two years.

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Shortstop David Eckstein agreed to terms with the Toronto Blue Jays on a one-year, $4.5-million contract.

Eckstein, who will turn 33 in January, had a career-high .309 batting average for the St. Louis Cardinals last season with three home runs, 31 RBIs and 10 stolen bases.

Eckstein, the MVP of the Cardinals’ World Series triumph in 2006, is expected to bat leadoff for the Blue Jays.

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The Colorado Rockies signed outfielder Cory Sullivan to a one-year, $1-million contract.

Sullivan, 29, hit .286 in 72 games for the Rockies last season after being called up from triple-A Colorado Springs. He started 24 games, all in center field.

He has hit .281 with eight home runs and 74 RBIs in his three seasons with the Rockies.

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The Minnesota Twins and shortstop Adam Everett agreed to terms on a one-year contract just one day after he was non-tendered by the Houston Astros.

Everett, 30, is a slick fielder, but a light hitter with a .248 career average.

He broke his right leg last season and was limited to 66 games, batting .232 with 15 RBIs in 220 at-bats.

Everett became expendable with the Astros after they sent five players to the Baltimore Orioles for All-Star shortstop Miguel Tejada.

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Japanese reliever Kazuo Fukumori and the Texas Rangers agreed to a contract.

The right-hander, who pitched for the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles last season, is coming off surgery to remove bone chips from his elbow. He has undergone a physical for the Rangers.

Fukumori, 31, could be a set-up man or closer in Texas. He pitched 13 seasons in Japan, going 34-42 with a 3.68 ERA and 72 saves in 377 games.

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