A person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press that the Detroit Tigers and outfielder Johnny Damon have reached a preliminary agreement on an $8 million, one-year contract.

The person, who talked Saturday on condition of anonymity because the deal hasn’t been announced, said the contract is subject to a physical, which will be sometime next week.

Tigers General Manager Dave Dombrowski confirmed Friday he had made a contract offer to Damon, but Dombrowski didn’t return messages seeking comment Saturday.

Damon, 36, hit .286 with 24 homers for the New York Yankees last year. He likely will bat leadoff for the Tigers, filling the void left when Detroit dealt Curtis Granderson to the Yankees.

 

DODGERS: Los Angeles Manager Joe Torre said he’s committed himself to a fourth year with the team, ending speculation about whether he will return in 2011.

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Torre’s current contract runs through the upcoming season, but talks are under way to extend his deal one more year.

 

YANKEES: CC Sabathia of New York threw 35 pitches during his first spring-training bullpen session.

George Steinbrenner, the 79-year-old principal owner of the Yankees, said he’s ”feeling good” when he arrived at the team’s spring-training complex to watch his grandson play in a high school game.

 

ANGELS: Los Angeles reliever Scot Shields said his recovery from season-ending knee surgery last June is on track and that the team’s bullpen never has been better.

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ASTROS: Houston extended the contract of General Manager Ed Wade through the 2012 season.

 

CUBS: Chicago beat shortstop Ryan Theriot in salary arbitration, meaning he’ll be paid $2.6 million this season instead of his request for a raise from $500,000 to $3.4 million.

 

RANGERS: Texas left-hander Derek Holland sprained his right knee during agility drills in a light rain at Surprise, Ariz.

 

MARINERS: Seattle pitcher Yusmeiro Petit is dealing with personal matters in his native Venezuela and isn’t expected to join the team until next week.

 


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