Haren, Johnson, Choate, more finalize deals

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Right-hander Dan Haren has agreed to a one-year contract with the Washington Nationals.

The NL East champions announced the deal Friday, without giving financial terms. Earlier in the week, a person familiar with the talks told The Associated Press it would be worth $13 million.

The 32-year-old Haren was a free agent after going 12-13 with a 4.33 ERA in 30 starts for the Los Angeles Angels in 2012. The Angels nearly traded him to the Cubs after the season, then declined their $15.5 million option for 2013.

Haren is 119-97 with a 3.66 ERA with four clubs in the majors and was an All-Star in 2007, 2008 and 2009.

He joins an already formidable Nationals rotation led by Stephen Strasburg and Gio Gonzalez.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- Reed Johnson, the top pinch hitter in the National League last season, rejoined the Atlanta Braves on Thursday with a $1.75 million, one-year contract that includes a club option for 2014.

The deal was announced two days before Johnson turned 36.

Atlanta acquired Johnson and pitcher Paul Maholm from the Chicago Cubs on July 30. Johnson hit a combined .290 with three home runs and 20 RBIs last season. He batted .419 (18 for 43) as a pinch hitter.

Johnson is a career .284 hitter with 62 home runs for Toronto, the Cubs, the Los Angeles Dodgers and Atlanta since making his major league debut in 2003.

Johnson gets a $1.6 million salary next season, and the deal includes a $1.6 million team option for 2014 with a $150,000 buyout. He can earn $150,000 in performance bonuses in 2013: $50,000 each for 90, 110 and 130 games played.

PHOENIX (AP) -- The Arizona Diamondbacks completed one-year contracts with free agent Eric Hinske and catcher Wil Nieves on Thursday.

Hinske, an infielder-outfielder, and the Diamondbacks agreed to their $1.35 million deal Tuesday at baseball's winter meetings in Nashville, Tenn. Nieves and the team came to terms on an $800,000 contract Wednesday.

A veteran of 11 major league seasons, Hinske spent the last three years with the Atlanta Braves. He hit .197 with two homers and 13 RBIs in 132 at-bats this year, seeing time at first base, left field and right field. He made three straight World Series appearances from 2007-09 with Boston, Tampa Bay and the New York Yankees.

The 35-year-old Hinske will fill a bench role for the Diamondbacks. He has a .218 average (57 for 262) as a pinch hitter with eight home runs and 36 RBIs.

Nieves, also 35, wasn't tendered a contract by Arizona last week. He batted .306 with a home run and three RBIs in 16 games for the Diamondbacks in 2012.

Arizona claimed Nieves off waivers from Colorado on Aug. 6. He was designated for assignment by the Rockies after hitting .298 with one homer in 16 games with Colorado and .306 with three homers in 111 at-bats for Triple-A Colorado Springs.

Nieves has batted .229 (191 for 834) with seven home runs and 81 RBIs in 314 major league games over nine seasons. He has also played for San Diego, the New York Yankees, Washington and Milwaukee.

ST. LOUIS (AP) Reliever Randy Choate and the St. Louis Cardinals have finalized a $7.5 million, three-year contract.

The deal was announced Friday, two days after it was agreed to at the winter meetings.

The 37-year-old left-hander tied for the major league lead with 80 pitching appearances this year, splitting the season between the Miami Marlins and Los Angeles Dodgers. Choate is 11-11 with a 4.02 ERA and six saves in 476 games during a big league career that began in 2000.

CHICAGO (AP) -- The Chicago Cubs have finalized a $9.5 million, two-year contract with Japanese pitcher Kyuji Fujikawa.

The 32-year-old right-hander had 220 saves in 12 seasons with the Hanshin Tigers of Japan's Central League. He played for Japan at the 2006 and 2009 World Baseball Classics and the the 2008 Olympics.

General manager Jed Hoyer says Carlos Marmol remains the Cubs' closer but did not rule out the possibility of Fujikawa eventually earning the role.