Report: Mariners, Weaver close to completing deal

SEATTLE -- Jeff Weaver is close to finding a home with the Seattle Mariners.

The Mariners are closing in on a deal with the 30-year-old right-hander, a baseball official close to the negotiations said Thursday, speaking on condition of anonymity because the contract had not yet been agreed to.

Mariners general manager Bill Bavasi has repeatedly said the Mariners would like to add a starting pitcher. Weaver's agent, Scott Boras, was traveling Thursday and didn't immediately return a telephone message.

Weaver, who made $8,325,000 last season, is a one-time phenom for the Detroit Tigers who was waived by the Los Angeles Angels last season after he went 3-10 in 16 starts. Weaver then went 5-4 in 15 starts with St. Louis, finishing with an overall regular-season ERA of 5.76.

But in the postseason, Weaver resurrected his career by helping the Cardinals win the World Series. He had a victory in each round of the Cardinals' playoffs, and he dominated for eight innings in the Game 5 title clincher against the Detroit Tigers.

The Mariners missed on signing several free agent pitchers they were seeking earlier this offseason, such as Barry Zito and Jason Schmidt. They've instead been settling for Miguel Batista, who turns 36 next month, and little-known Horacio Ramirez, acquired from Atlanta for primary setup man Rafael Soriano.

White Sox sign Erstad

Outfielder Darin Erstad and the Chicago White Sox agreed Thursday on a $1 million, one-year contract that includes a club option for 2008.

Erstad will receive a base salary of $750,000, and the White Sox have a $3.5 million option for 2008 with a $250,000 buyout.

A two-time All-Star with the Los Angeles Angels, Erstad had arthroscopic surgery for a bone spur in his right ankle on Oct. 5 after batting .221 with no home runs and five RBIs in a career-low 40 games last season. He is the only player to win the Gold Glove as an infielder (2004, at first base) and outfielder (2000 and 2002).

The 32-year-old is a career .286 hitter with 279 doubles, 114 home runs, 625 RBIs and 818 runs scored in 11 seasons.

-- The Associated Press