Valentin Staying Put

John Valentin, who once vowed to leave the Red Sox, has agreed to a $25 million, four-year contract with Boston that includes a team option for 2002.

Valentin made $3.8 million last year and had asked for $7 million in salary arbitration, $1.5 million more than the team’s offer. The contract includes a $1 million signing bonus, a $5.1 million salary this year and $6.1 million for the next three seasons.

The Milwaukee Brewers signed outfielder Jeromy Burnitz to a four-year, $14.5 million contract, adding the power hitter to a core roster they hope to keep through the opening of a new ballpark in 2000.

The Cincinnati Reds signed pitcher Mark Hutton, acquired from the Colorado Rockies last month for outfielder Curtis Goodwin, to a one-year contract.