Associated Press
ATLANTA ó The power-hungry Atlanta Braves are hoping longtime third baseman Troy Glaus can fill the team’s void at first base.
The Braves have reached a preliminary agreement on a one-year contract with Troy Glaus, a person with knowledge of the negotiations to The Associated Press on Wednesday. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal is not final.
The agreement is pending a physical planned for the first week of January.
Glaus has played third base most of his career, but the Braves probably would use the 33-year-old at first base in place of Adam LaRoche, who became a free agent.
“We think he’s 100 percent healthy,” Braves manager Bobby Cox said. “I have talked to him and told him we would love to have him here.”
Glaus played in two games at first base for St. Louis this year after missing most of the season while recovering from shoulder surgery. He hit .172 in only 14 games.
If healthy, Glaus could give the Braves much-needed power behind Chipper Jones and Brian McCann. The Braves ranked 22nd in the major leagues with 149 homers last season.
Glaus hit 27 homers with 99 RBIs for St. Louis in 2008 and had 30 or more homers in five of seven seasons from 2000-06 with the Angels, Arizona and Toronto. He has 304 career homers.
“He’s been a power guy every year except when he got hurt,” Cox said. “He’s still a young guy, and he’s always been athletic. He can learn to play first in a heartbeat, and I know he has played there some already.”
Atlanta apparently is looking for a short-term answer at first base while top prospect Freddie Freeman progresses through the minor leagues.
Trading Javier Vazquez freed up the payroll to acquire a power hitter.
YANKEES
NEW YORK ó Nick Johnson was surprised the New York Yankees wanted him back.
“Mark Teixeira’s a great first baseman and a great player,” he said. “I just thought there’d be no chance.”
Johnson finalized a $5.75 million, one-year contract to be a designated hitter and No. 2 batter.
Yankees general manager Brian Cashman called Johnson “a cheaper alternative at the DH slot” and “one of the better offensive-oriented players in the game.”
ANGELS
LOS ANGELES ó Reliever Fernando Rodney reached a preliminary agreement with the Angels on a two-year deal worth $11 million.
ROYALS
KANSAS CITY, Mo. ó Outfielder Brian Anderson and the Royals have agreed to a $700,000, one-year deal.
METS
NEW YORK ó The New York Mets agreed to a minor league contract with knuckleballer R.A. Dickey.
TRADE
SEATTLE ó The Toronto Blue Jays finalized their trade to acquire former No. 1 draft choice Brandon Morrow from Seattle for fellow reliever Brandon League and minor league outfielder Johermyn Chavez.