Associated Press

The baseball notebook ...

NEW YORK — Free-agent pitcher Oliver Perez was offered salary arbitration Monday by the New York Mets, who would receive two compensatory draft picks if the left-hander signs with another team.

Perez was 10-7 with a 4.22 ERA in 34 starts this season. He had 180 strikeouts and 105 walks in 194 innings.

The Mets did not offer arbitration to their other free agents: Pedro Martinez, Luis Ayala, Damion Easley, Moises Alou, Orlando Hernandez, Tony Armas Jr., Ramon Martinez, Trot Nixon, Ricardo Rincon and Matt Wise.

Perez has until Sunday to accept the arbitration offer.

In other news, outfielder-first baseman Nick Evans has a strained right quadriceps and will stop playing winter ball in Puerto Rico. He will undergo three to four weeks of therapy at home in Arizona and is expected to be ready for spring training.

Evans was examined Monday in New York.

ATHLETICS

OAKLAND, Calif — The Oakland Athletics declined to offer salary arbitration to their four free agents Monday, including slugger Frank Thomas.

The others are relievers Alan Embree and Keith Foulke, and Emil Brown.

Thomas joined the A's on April 24 after being released by Toronto, but the Big Hurt missed much of the season. The 40-year-old designated hitter spent two stints on the disabled list and played only 55 games, batting .263 with five homers and 19 RBIs. He has said he hopes to play up to two more seasons before retiring.

RED SOX

BOSTON— The Boston Red Sox and Japanese pitcher Junichi Tazawa have agreed to a major league contract, according to two newspaper reports.

The 22-year-old right-hander, who has never played professional baseball, agreed to a deal worth about $3 million, the Boston Globe reported Monday. The Boston Herald reported Tazawa likely would sign a three-year contract by today.

The Red Sox, who already have Japanese pitchers Daisuke Matsuzaka and Hideki Okajima, would put Tazawa on the 40-man roster but he likely would begin next season in the minors.

- In other news, the Red Sox offered salary arbitration to free-agent catcher Jason Varitek and pitcher Paul Byrd, a move that means the club would receive compensatory draft picks if those players sign with another team.

- Boston declined to offer arbitration to its other free agents: Curt Schilling, Bartolo Colon, Mike Timlin, David Ross, Sean Casey, Alex Cora and Mark Kotsay.

MARINERSSEATTLE — Raul Ibanez was offered salary arbitration Monday by the Mariners, a move that means Seattle would receive an extra pair of draft picks next year if the free-agent outfielder signs with another team.

YANKEESNEW YORK — The New York Yankees declined salary arbitration with all eight of their former players who became free agents, a group that includes pitcher Andy Pettitte and right fielder Bobby Abreu.

Both made $16 million last season, so the move was not a surprise. By declining arbitration, the Yankees forfeited draft-pick compensation if they sign with other teams.

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