Baseball-Major League Baseball roundup

Jan 17 (The Sports Xchange) - The Baltimore Orioles avoided arbitration with first baseman Chris Davis and catcher Matt Wieters, signing them to one-year deals. Davis' is for $12 million and Wieters' is for $8.275 million. Right-handed pitcher Chris Tillman and left-hander Brian Matusz also agreed to deals. Tillman's deal is for $4.315 million and Matusz's is for $3.2 million. Davis batted .196 with 26 home runs and 72 RBIs last season, a sharp decline is his 2013 that saw him hit 53 homers and 138 RBIs. Wieters batted .308 in 26 games, missing most of the season because of Tommy John surgery. Tillman went 13-6 with a 3.34 ERA in 2014 while Matusz was 2-3 with a 3.48 ERA. - - - The New York Mets and second baseman Daniel Murphy avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $8 million contract, according to reports. Murphy requested $8.6 million and was offered $7.4 million by the Mets when arbitration figures were exchanged Friday. He made $5.7 million in 2014. Murphy hit .289 with nine home runs, 57 RBIs and 13 stolen bases in 2014. - - - The Cleveland Indians avoided arbitration cases with newly acquired Brandon Moss and five other players. Moss agreed to a one-year, $6.5 million deal. The Indians also avoided arbitration with third baseman Lonnie Chisenhall ($2.25 million) and pitchers Josh Tomlin ($1.5 million), Bryan Shaw ($1.55 million), Carlos Carrasco ($2.34 million) and Marc Rzepczynski ($2.4 million). - - - The Minnesota Twins avoided arbitration with third baseman Trevor Plouffe ($4.8 million), left-hander Tommy Milone ($2.775 million), right-hander Casey Fiend ($1.375 million) and infielder Eduardo Nunez ($1.025 million) signing all four to one-year deals. - - - The Pittsburgh Pirates, who paid a $5 million posting fee for Korean infielder Jung Ho Kang, signed him to a four-year, $11 million contract. The deal reportedly includes a $5.5 million club option for 2019 and a $1 million buyout. Kang, who hit .356 with 40 home runs in 117 games last season for the Nexen Heroes, is trying to become the first position player to make the jump from the Korean Baseball Organization to the major leagues. The Pirates also came to terms on one-year contracts with nine of their 12 arbitration-eligible players: right-handed closer Mark Melancon ($5.4 million), left-handed reliever Antonio Bastardo ($3.1 million), third baseman Josh Harrison ($2.8 million), outfielder Travis Snider ($2.1 million), infielder Sean Rodriguez ($1.9 million), left-handed reliever Tony Watson ($1.75 million), right-handed reliever Jared Hughes ($1.08 million), catcher Chris Stewart ($1.23 million) and catcher Francisco Cervelli ($987,000). - - - The Oakland Athletics avoided arbitration with five players by reaching agreement on one-year contracts with each. Among them were right fielder Josh Reddick and third baseman Brett Lawrie. Reddick's deal is worth $4.1 million after he made $2.7 million last year. Lawrie will make $1.925 million, up from $516,000 a year ago. Also agreeing to one-year contracts were A's right-hander Ryan Cook ($1.4 million) and outfielders Sam Fuld ($1.75 million) and Craig Gentry ($1.6 million). - - - The Chicago White Sox agreed to a one-year, $9.8 million contract with right-handed starter Jeff Samardzija to avoid arbitration. Chicago also agreed to a $2.675 million, one-year deal with catcher Tyler Flowers. - - - The San Francisco Giants reached agreement with outfielder Norichika Aoki on a one-year, $4.7 million guaranteed contract. Aoki probably will play left field for the Giants, who lost Michael Morse to the Miami Marlins last month. - - - The Texas Rangers signed left-hander Ross Detwiler to a one-year contract for $3,450,000. - - - Washington Nationals right-handed ace Stephen Strasburg agreed to a one-year, $7.4 million contract to avoid salary arbitration. The Nationals also agreed to one-year deals with right-handed starter Doug Fister ($11.4 million) and right-handed reliever Drew Storen ($5.7 million). Strasburg went 14-11 with 242 strikeouts and a 3.14 ERA in his fifth season in the majors. - - - The Chicago Cubs confirmed Saturday that the renovated outfield bleachers at the historic ballpark will not be ready for the start of the 2015 season. The Cubs began a four-year, $375 million renovation project at the 100-year-old stadium after the 2014 season. (Editing by Gene Cherry)