BASEBALL ROUNDUP Phillies keep Lidle for $6.3 million

Vinny Castilla is leaving the Rockies and coming to D.C.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
PHILADELPHIA -- Right-hander Cory Lidle returned to the Philadelphia Phillies, agreeing Tuesday to a $6.3 million, two-year contract.
The 32-year-old Lidle was 5-2 with a 3.90 ERA in 10 starts with the Phillies after he was acquired from Cincinnati in August. Lidle, who started the Reds' season opener, finished 12-12 overall with a 4.90 ERA.
His three shutouts were tied for the most in the major leagues and his five complete games were tied for second in the majors.
Lidle will earn $3 million in 2005 and $3.3 million in 2006, plus performance bonuses. He came to the Phillies on Aug. 9 for right-hander Elizardo Ramirez, left-hander Joe Wilson and outfielder Javon Moran.
Staff shake-up
Lidle was part of a struggling rotation that included former All-Stars Eric Milton, Kevin Millwood, Randy Wolf and Vicente Padilla, and inconsistent Brett Myers.
It's possible Milton and Millwood, both free agents, won't return. The Phillies have made an offer to Milton, who won 14 games last season and earned $9 million. Millwood, who made $11 million and won nine games in an injury-plagued year, is unlikely to come back.
The Phillies, who finished 10 games behind first-place Atlanta, are trying to cut their payroll, which was $93.2 million at the start of the season.
Originally signed by Minnesota in 1990, Lidle is 57-51 with a 4.52 ERA in parts of seven seasons with the Mets (1997), Devil Rays (1999-2000), A's (2001-02), Blue Jays (2003), Reds and Phillies.
He became the first Phillies pitcher since Curt Schilling in 1992 to pitch back-to-back shutouts when he blanked the Brewers on Aug. 29 and the Mets on Sept. 4.
Lidle is 27-14 with a 3.48 ERA in 83 career starts from August through October, and has averaged 11 wins during the last four years.
Expos
WASHINGTON -- The Expos made their first big splash since the announcement they plan to move to Washington, agreeing to a $6.2 million, two-year contract with third baseman Vinny Castilla and a $16.8 million, four-year deal with shortstop Cristian Guzman.
Castilla, 37, hit .271 with 35 homers and an NL-leading 131 RBIs last season for Colorado, the best season for the two-time All-Star since he was with the Rockies in 1990s. Castilla also has played for Atlanta, Houston and Tampa Bay, and has 303 career home runs.
Guzman, a 26-year-old switch-hitter, batted .274 last season with eight homers, 46 RBIs and 10 steals for the Minnesota Twins, and he led AL shortstops with a .983 fielding percentage.
The signings were the first major moves by Jim Bowden, hired as general manager on Nov. 2 to replace Omar Minaya, who became GM of the New York Mets.