Aurilia returns to Cincinnati

NEW YORK – Second baseman Rich Aurilia and the Cincinnati Reds agreed to a $1.3 million, one-year contract Sunday night, about three hours before the team would have lost the right to re-sign him until May.

Jeff Weaver, who went 14-11 with a 4.22 ERA for the Dodgers last year, did not reach an agreement with Los Angeles before the midnight EST deadline.

Also letting the deadline pass were infielder Alex S. Gonzalez and Tampa Bay, and pitcher Pedro Astacio and San Diego.

First baseman Eduardo Perez, the fifth remaining unsigned free agent among the 26 offered salary arbitration on Dec. 7, has been working on finalizing a contract with Cleveland and has not been talking to the Devil Rays, his former club.

Under baseball’s labor contract, free agents offered arbitration have until Jan. 8 to re-sign with their former teams. After that, they can’t re-sign until May 1.

Aurilia’s deal contains a $2 million mutual option for 2007. If he has 400 plate appearances this year, a $100,000 buyout would kick in if the option is declined. If he has 450 plate appearances, the buyout amount would increase to $200,000.

Aurilia hit .282 with 14 homers and 68 RBIs last year for the Reds in his first season with the team.

Byung-Hyun Kim, who also faced the deadline, agreed Friday night to a one-year contract with the Colorado Rockies that guarantees him $1.5 million.

Also Sunday, reliever Trever Miller and the Houston Astros reached a preliminary agreement on a one-year contract. Miller is scheduled to be in Houston for a physical on Monday, and he must pass for the deal to be completed.

The left-hander spent the past two seasons with Tampa Bay, then became a free agent when the Devil Rays did not offer him a contract by the Dec. 20 deadline. He appeared in 61 games last season, going 2-2 with a 4.06 ERA.