BASEBALL ROUNDUP News and notes

Cubs: Infielder Neifi Perez agreed to a $5 million, two-year contract. The 32-year-old Perez, who became a free agent Oct. 31, hit .274 with nine homers and 54 RBIs last season. He had 44 multi-hit games and hit in 14 straight from May 23 to June 5. Since signing with the Cubs as a minor league free agent in August 2004, Perez has hit .284 with 38 doubles, 11 homers and 60 RBIs in 177 games. The versatile infielder has started 130 games at shortstop and 19 at second base during that span. Exactly where Perez fits in next season remains to be seen. The Cubs are expected to make a run at Atlanta Braves free-agent shortstop Rafael Furcal and give Ronny Cedeno a shot at regular time at shortstop or second after he batted .300 in 41 games. The Cubs also exercised their option on second baseman Todd Walker for next season. Free-agent slugger Nomar Garciaparra, who missed 3 1/2 months after injuring his groin on April 20, could be in the mix.
Yankees: New York declined a $3 million option popular first baseman Tino Martinez. Martinez returned to New York this year and hit .241 in part-time duty with 17 home runs and 49 RBIs. He was a staple in the Yankees' lineup from 1996-01, helping the team to four World Series championships and five AL pennants with his clutch hitting and reliable defense.
Giants: Free-agent reliever Scott Eyre hasn't ruled out a return to San Francisco, though he is eager to test the market and find the best possible deal. He realizes that could come elsewhere. The Giants have offered Eyre a two-year contract with a club option, but he's hoping for at least three years guaranteed. He said "a bunch" of teams have called expressing interest. The New York Yankees, looking for bullpen help, are one team that might fancy the 33-year-old lefty. Eyre made a career-high 86 appearances in 2005, going 2-2 with a 2.63 ERA in 68 1-3 innings. He struck out 65 batters and walked 26.
Padres: San Diego exercised its $1.75 million option for next season on reliever Akinori Otsuka and declined an $850,000 option on utilityman Eric Young. Otsuka was 2-8 with one save and a 3.59 ERA in 66 appearances spanning 62 2/3 innings last season, when his salary was $800,000. San Diego could have given the right-hander a $200,000 buyout. The 38-year-old Young hit .275 this year with two homers, nine doubles, seven steals and 22 runs in 56 games. He gets a $150,000 buyout after earning an $850,000 salary in 2005.
Associated Press