Roundup: Angels reward GM Reagins with extension

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) -- Los Angeles Angels general manager Tony Reagins has agreed to a long-term contract extension.

The Angels have won the AL West in both of his years as GM. Reagins received the extension Friday.

The 42-year-old Reagins succeeded Bill Stoneman in October 2007 after six seasons as the Angels' director of player development. Reagins has spent 18 years in the organization since joining the club as an intern.

The Angels went to the AL championship series this season. In his tenure, Reagins has signed outfielders Torii Hunter and Bobby Abreu and traded for pitcher Scott Kazmir.

Brewers decline option on Weathers

MILWAUKEE -- The Milwaukee Brewers have declined a $3.7 million club option on right-handed reliever David Weathers for next season.

Weathers arrived in Milwaukee in a trade with Cincinnati in August and went 1-3 with a 4.88 ERA the rest of the year. He gets a $400,000 buyout and becomes eligible for free agency.

The Brewers also are weighing a decision on exercising a 2010 option on starter Braden Looper, who went 14-7 with a 5.22 ERA last season.

Looper's 2010 option is for $6.5 million with a $1 million buyout because he pitched more than 180 innings last season. If Milwaukee exercises the option, Looper has the right to decline it but he would forfeit the buyout.

Nationals buy out Kearns for $1 million

WASHINGTON -- The Washington Nationals have declined their $10 million option on outfielder Austin Kearns and are paying a $1 million buyout, presumably ending his disappointing tenure with the team.

The 29-year-old Kearns hit only .195 with three homers and 17 RBIs in 174 at-bats this season, when he was hampered by a thumb problem. Elbow and foot injuries limited Kearns to 86 games in 2008, when he batted .217 with seven homers and 32 RBIs.

In 2007, his only full season in Washington, Kearns hit .266 with 16 homers and 74 RBIs.

He joined the Nationals in a midseason trade with the Reds in 2006. On Feb. 1, 2007, the Nationals announced a three-year deal that paid Kearns $17.5 million, including the buyout.

Torrealba, Embree file for free agency

DENVER -- The Colorado Rockies have declined their part of mutual options on catcher Yorvit Torrealba and left-hander Alan Embree, and they both filed for free agency.

Torrealba receives a $500,000 buyout instead of a $4 million salary, and Embree gets a $250,000 buyout instead of a $3 million salary.

The 31-year-old Torrealba came up big for the Rockies down the stretch, helping them win the NL wild card for the second time in three years. He hit .291 ands drove in 17 of his 31 RBIs from Sept. 1 on.

Embree was 2-2 with a 5.84 ERA in 36 games. His season ended when he broke his right leg on a liner off the bat of Atlanta's Martin Prado on July 10.

Braves sign Proctor to minor league deal

ATLANTA -- Right-handed pitcher Scott Proctor has signed a minor league contract with the Atlanta Braves after missing all of last season recovering from elbow surgery.

The 32-year-old Proctor has pitched five years in the majors with the New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers. He began experiencing elbow pain in 2008, causing him to miss 63 games, and underwent Tommy John ligament replacement surgery this past May 12.

Proctor's best season was 2006, when he led the American League with 83 appearances and big league relievers with 102 1-3 innings. He went 6-4 with one save and a 3.52 ERA for the Yankees that year.

Proctor will attend the Braves' spring camp as a non-roster invitee.

Thames, Treanor to become free agents

DETROIT -- The Detroit Tigers have removed outfielder Marcus Thames and catcher Matt Treanor from the roster, clearing the way for both players to become free agents.

Thames, a Tiger since 2004, hit .252 last season with 13 homers and 36 RBIs in 87 games. Treanor played in four games before undergoing surgery on his right hip April 30.

The Tigers also said Friday that infielder Michael Hollimon's contract has been outrighted to Triple-A Toledo. The club purchased the contract of right-handed pitcher Jay Sborz from the Mud Hens and reinstated right-hander Joel Zumaya and infielder Jeff Larish from the 60-day disabled list.

Strasburg scratched from start

WASHINGTON -- The Washington Nationals say No. 1 overall draft pick Stephen Strasburg has a strained neck muscle and is being scratched from his scheduled start in the Arizona Fall League Rising Stars game.

The team says the right-hander is being held out of Saturday's game for precautionary reasons.

The Nationals are listing Strasburg's status as day to day and are not sure when his next Arizona Fall League start will be.

Strasburg signed a record $15.1 million dollar contract in August after being the top pick in June's amateur draft out of San Diego State.

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