MLB free-agent highlights

The Red Sox bolstered their pitching staff with three signings recently, with each pitcher arriving after spending much of 2008 with arm trouble. Former Atlanta Braves ace John Smoltz signed a one-year, $5.5 million deal with Boston, though incentives could bring it all the way up to $10 million. Smoltz was limited to six appearances in 2008 after having right shoulder surgery and might not be pitching until May or June this season.   (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Former Dodgers ace Brad Penny signed a one-year contract with the Boston Red Sox for about $5 million. Penny’s season was disrupted three times in 2008 with trips to the disabled list because of shoulder problems. The 30-year-old compiled a 6-9 record with a career-worst 6.27 earned run average in 17 starts and two relief appearances. In nine seasons with Florida and the Dodgers, Penny is 94-75 with a 4.06 ERA in 249 career games -- 245 starts -- to go along with 1,032 strikeouts.   (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

The Chicago Cubs believe the mercurial Milton Bradley, a switch-hitting outfielder who has never been shy about speaking his mind, has finally reached his potential and signed him to a three-year, $30-million contract the first week of the new year. Bradley is a .280 hitter in nine seasons and had career highs of 22 home runs and 77 runs batted in with Texas last season.   (M. Spencer Green / Associated Press)

Switch-hitting slugger Mark Teixeira was the center of this off-season’s biggest bidding war, with teams in the AL and NL lining up offers. The New York Yankees an eight-year, $180-million deal, outbidding their archrivals, the Boston Red Sox, and the Angels in the process. The agreement, pushed the Yankees’ winter spending spree to $423.5 million, after the signing of left-hander CC Sabathia and right-hander A.J. Burnett. Last season Teixeira had 33 home runs and 121 RBIs while batting .308 for the Atlanta Braves and Angels. In six seasons he has hit .290 and averaged 34 home runs and 112 RBIs a year.  (Alex Gallardo / Los Angeles Times)

The New York Yankees landed the top left-handed starting pitcher available this off-season in CC Sabathia (right) and added a top-flight right-handed starter in A.J. Burnett. The two visited the Bronx on Dec. 18 during a news conference. Sabathia, who had a 17-10 record with a 2.70 ERA last year with the Cleveland Indians and Milwaukee Brewers, signed a $161-million, seven-year contract that includes a $9-million signing bonuns. In 17 starts with Milwaukee, he threw seven complete games and three shutouts, helping the Brewers reach the postseason for the first time since 1982. Burnett, who went 18-10 with a 4.07 ERA for Toronto last season, signed an $82.5-million, five-year deal.  (Nick Laham / Getty Images)

General Manager Omar Minaya of the New York Mets checks out his new acquisition, former Angels closer Francisco Rodriguez, during a news conference Dec. 17. Rodriguez, who signed a three-year, $37-million contract, went 2-3 with a 2.24 ERA and a single-season record 62 saves for the Angels in 2008.  (Julie Jacobson / Associated Press)

Shortstop Rafael Furcal, a Gold Glove-caliber fielder and catalyst at the top of the order when healthy, has been signed for a second stint with the Dodgers, worth at least $30 million for three seasons. Furcal hit .357 with five homers and 16 RBIs last season, but was limited to 36 games and 143 at-bats. He had back surgery July 3 and was sidelined until the season’s final week, but started each of the Dodgers’ eight postseason games, hitting .258 with one homer, three RBIs and nine runs scored. Furcal gets $6.5 million next season, $8.5 million in 2010 and $12 million in 2011. The deal includes a $12-million team option for 2012, and the option would become guaranteed if he has 600 plate appearances in 2011. He also can earn an additional $1 million annually, including the option year, if he remains healthy.  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

The former Chicago Cubs starting pitcher who is now a closer was introduced by the Cleveland Indians on Dec. 18 after signing a two-year, $20-million contract. The contract includes an option for 2011 worth $11 million that vests if Wood finishes 55 games in either ’09 or ’10. Otherwise, it is a club option. The hard-throwing right-hander has been on the disabled list 12 times in 10 seasons and has had two major surgeries. Wood struck out 84 batters and walked just 18 in 66 1/3 innings over 65 appearances last season. In all, he went 5-4 with a 3.26 ERA, and his 34 saves ranked fourth in the NL.  (Mark Duncan / Associated Press)

The right-hander, who began his career as a starter but spent a handful of seasons as a reliever, had a stellar 2008 for the Chicago Cubs, who rewarded his 17-6 record and 2.96 ERA, with a four-year, $52-million contract. He was the first big-name signing this off-season and while some thought he gave the Cubs a hometown discount, his lifetime ERA in 11 seasons is 4.55.  (Alex Gallardo / Los Angeles Times)

The reigning World Series champion Philadelphia Phillies signed outfielder Raul Ibanez to a three-year, $30-million contract in mid-December. He will replace right-handed slugger Pat Burrell in left field. Ibanez, a left-handed power hitter, has averaged 22 home runs and 97 RBIs a season since 2002, and the last three years he has averaged 112 RBIs.  (Ted S. Warren / Associated Press)

The San Francisco Giants filled a hole in the middle of their infield by signing shortstop Edgar Renteria to replace the retiring Omar Vizquel. The five-time All-Star and two-time Gold Glove winner signed a two-year contract for $18.5 million. The 13-year veteran appeared in 138 games for the Detroit Tigers last season, batting .270 with 10 home runs and 55 RBIs, his lowest total since 1998.  (Paul Sancya / Associated Press)

Left-handed reliever Brian Fuentes, who saved 111 games in the last four seasons with the Colorado Rockies, has expressed his desire to play for the Angels, who parted ways with closer Francisco Rodriguez. Fuentes, who grew up in Merced, Calif., had 30 saves with a career-best 2.73 ERA in 2008.  (Morry Gash / Associated Press)

Right-handed starting pitcher Derek Lowe probably will land elsewhere than with the Dodgers. And the big-game starter, a World Series champion with Boston in 2004, will command a lot of offers. In the last seven seasons, he has pitched at least 200 innings five times, with a low of 182 innings in 2004. His career record of 126-107 with a 3.75 ERA isn’t spectacular, and he was 14-11 with a 3.24 ERA last season. He’s 5-5 with a 3.33 ERA in 11 postseason series.  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

No longer an emerging star, this right-hander has top-of-the-rotation stuff. Sheets went 13-9 with a 3.09 ERA over 31 starts for the Milwaukee Brewers last season, although he finished the year with a strained elbow and along with past injury problems might have teams hesitant to sign him to a long-term deal. In eight seasons with the Brewers, he won at least 10 games seven times, only failing to do so when injuries held him to 17 starts and a 6-5 record in 2006.  (H. Rumph Jr. / Associated Press)

Slugging outfielder Adam Dunn could be headed to the Southland to fill voids for either the Dodgers or Angels. The 6-foot-6, 275-pounder, though, is a liability on defense and for every extra-base hit he mashes there’s a couple of strikeouts (the eight-year veteran has struck out 164 or more times in six seasons). Still, he has hit at least 40 homers in each of the last five seasons and has drawn more than 100 walks in seven seasons. In duty for the Cincinnati Reds and Arizona Diamondbacks last year he had 40 homers and 100 RBIs, the fourth time in five seasons he’s driven in at least 100 runs.  (Ross D. Franklin / Associated Press)

Left fielder Pat Burrell was his steady self during the Phillies’ run to the World Series title. The eight-year veteran has never hit fewer than 21 homers in seven full seasons and has averaged 31 home runs and 103 RBIs a season. He had 33 homers and drove in 86 runs last season. Despite his steady production, he’s not considered a top-tier free agent since he played in a hitter-friendly park and is considered a marginal fielder.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

The slick-fielding second baseman, a three-time Gold Glove winner, doesn’t have eye-popping offensive numbers, but he’s a clutch hitter who blossomed while in Arizona. His batting average has risen from .287 to .294 to .305 the last three seasons, although he played in only 107 games last year. When playing at least 130 games in a season, he averages 11 homers and 61 RBIs.  (Michael Robinson Chavez / Los Angeles Times)

One of the all-time great Angels, Garret Anderson was cut loose this off-season and is looking for a home. Considered a marginal outfielder who might be better suited as a designated hitter, the left-hander is a career .296 hitter who holds several Angels records. From 2000 to 2003, he averaged 30 home runs and 120 RBIs as he helped the Angels win the 2002 World Series championship. The last five years, while battling a variety of injuries, he averaged 16 homers and 84 RBIs.  (Alex Gallardo / Los Angeles Times)