BASEBALL ROUNDUP Call to arms: Free agent pitchers on the move

Jon Lieber went from the Yankees to the Phillies to top an active signing day.
NEW YORK (AP) -- Jon Lieber agreed to a deal with the Philadelphia Phillies, Al Leiter returned to the Florida Marlins and Woody Williams went back to the San Diego Padres as teams moved quickly to grab starting pitchers Wednesday after the first free-agent deadline of the off-season passed.
Lieber left the Yankees, agreeing to a $21 million, three-year contract with Philadelphia, and Leiter departed the Mets with some degree of acrimony, getting an $8 million, one-year contract from Florida.
Williams, part of the St. Louis Cardinals' NL pennant-winning team, is guaranteed $3.5 million by the Padres as part of a deal that could be worth $14.5 million for two years.
Yanks fill gap with Wright
The Yankees didn't waste any time filling Lieber's spot in the rotation, closing in on a $21 million, three-year contract with Jaret Wright. New York also has a preliminary agreement with second baseman Tony Womack on a $4 million, two-year deal.
Dustin Hermanson left the San Francisco Giants for a $5.5 million, two-year contract with the Chicago White Sox, and catcher Sandy Alomar Jr. departed the White Sox for a $550,000, one-year deal with Texas.
Forty-one free agents, the highest total since at least 1985, were offered salary arbitration by their former teams before Tuesday's midnight deadline. They have until Dec. 19 to accept the offers and can re-sign through Jan. 8.
The remaining 168 free agents are barred from going back to their old teams until May 1, meaning they almost certainly will play elsewhere next year. That group includes third baseman Troy Glaus, the 2002 World Series MVP (Anaheim); first baseman Carlos Delgado (Toronto); outfielder Steve Finley (Los Angeles); outfielder Magglio Ordonez (Chicago White Sox); and pitchers Eric Milton and Kevin Millwood (Philadelphia).
Hurlers a high priority
Several players agreed to re-sign just before the deadline, including pitcher Brad Radke, who got an $18 million, two-year contract from the Minnesota Twins. St. Louis agreed to one-year deals with pitchers Matt Morris ($2.5 million) and Cal Eldred ($600,000), along with outfielder John Mabry ($725,000).
Before heading to the winter meetings, which start Friday in Anaheim, Calif., several teams were busy locking up pitching.
Lieber, 35 in April, spent last season with the Yankees, going 14-8 with a 4.33 ERA in 27 starts. He was 1-1 with a 3.43 ERA in three playoff starts for the Yankees, and got more effective later in the season as he regained arm strength following 2002 elbow-ligament replacement sur-gery.
Lieber gets a $1 million signing bonus and will earn $5.25 million in 2005, $7.25 million in 2006 and $7.5 million in 2007.
Leiter, 10-8 with a 3.21 ERA last season, returned to the team he helped pitch to the 1997 World Series title
Williams, 38, was 11-8 with a 4.18 ERA for St. Louis last season, going 2-5 before winning 10 of his last 13 decisions. He started the opener of all three postseason series for the Cardinals.
Williams pitched with San Diego from 1999 until he was dealt to St. Louis for outfielder Ray Lankford and cash in a waiver deal shortly after the trading deadline in 2001.
Padres general manager Kevin Towers called that trade the worst he's ever made.
Womack must pass a physical to complete his deal with the Yankees, and Wright's representatives and the Yankees have to finalize contract language.
New York still hopes to sign at least one more starter, and is talking with Carl Pavano and Milton.