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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

M’s agree to deal with suspended Lawton

Associated Press

The Seattle Mariners took a chance on outfielder Matt Lawton, agreeing Thursday to a $400,000, one-year contract with a player who will start next season under suspension because of steroid use.

The commissioner’s office announced Nov. 2 that Lawton tested positive for steroids, a substance identified as boldenone, which is used by veterinarians.

Because he tested positive under the 2005 program, Lawton will miss the first 10 days of next season instead of 50 games, the penalty called for under the toughened agreement players and owners adopted under pressure from politicians.

The left-handed-hitting Lawton hit a combined .254 last season with 13 homers and 53 RBIs in 141 games for Pittsburgh, the Chicago Cubs and New York Yankees.

The 34-year-old Lawton, who received a limited no-trade clause, can earn an additional $1.25 million in performance bonuses based on plate appearances and would get the full amount if he has 600. He earned $7.5 million last season, completing a $27 million, four-year contract he agreed to with Cleveland in December 2001.

He is a career .267 hitter with 138 homers. He was an All-Star in 2000 with Minnesota and 2004 with Cleveland.

Tomko goes to Dodgers

Brett Tomko became the third former San Francisco player to switch to the Los Angeles Dodgers, agreeing to an $8.7 million, two-year contract.

His deal calls for salaries of $3.6 million next year and $4.1 million in 2007.

The right-hander, who went 8-15 with a 4.48 ERA for the Giants last season, passed his physical. He became the sixth free agent signed by Ned Colletti, a former San Francisco assistant general manager who became the Dodgers’ GM on Nov. 15.

Tomko has an 81-73 record and 4.52 ERA in nine major league seasons. He has made at least 30 starts and pitched at least 190 innings each of the past four years.

Twins land White for DH spot

Rondell White agreed to a contract with Minnesota that guarantees him $3.25 million for one year and could be worth up to $8.5 million over two seasons if he plays regularly.

White, 33, who spent the last two seasons in Detroit, should help make up for the loss of Jacque Jones, who agreed to a three-year deal with the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday.

White hit .313 with 12 homers and 53 RBIs in 97 games for the Tigers last season, but the outfielder missed most of the year with shoulder ailments. White was on the DL eight times from 1996-2001.

Clearing the bases

Second baseman Mark Bellhorn agreed to an $800,000, one-year deal with San Diego. Bellhorn likely will replace Mark Loretta, who was traded to Boston this month for catcher Doug Mirabelli. … The New York Yankees announced that they had agreed to a $1.5 million, one-year contract with popular outfielder Bernie Williams, who has been in pinstripes since 1991. … Former Yankees backup catcher John Flaherty and the Red Sox reached a preliminary agreement on a $650,000, one-year contract.