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NEW YORK — Albert Pujols, Prince Fielder and Jose Reyes were offered salary arbitration Wednesday, guaranteeing their teams two extra draft picks next year if they sign with new clubs.

Teams faced decisions on just seven Type A free agents as the Wednesday midnight ET deadline approached. A new club signing one of those players would lose a top pick in June’s amateur draft, and a team that offers arbitration and loses one of those players would get two extra selections as compensation.

Around the league:

Pujols (St. Louis), Fielder (Milwaukee) and Reyes (Mets) received offers, along with Boston designated hitter David Ortiz, Texas left-hander C.J. Wilson and Philadelphia shortstop Jimmy Rollins. They have until Nov. 30 to accept.

The Phillies declined to offer arbitration to right-hander Roy Oswalt, the only Type A player turned down.

Reliever Jonathan Papelbon, the eighth Type A player, already has left Boston to sign a US$50-million, four-year deal with the Phillies. The Red Sox will receive draft-pick compensation for losing Papelbon.

San Diego offered arbitration to closer Heath Bell, who had been a Type A player but was reclassified under Tuesday’s labour deal. If he signs elsewhere, the Padres will gain two draft picks, but Bell’s new club won’t lose any. Philadelphia made an arbitration offer to reliever Ryan Madson and Milwaukee made one to Francisco Rodriguez, who are both in the same category.

Also offered arbitration were Padres pitcher Aaron Harang, Chicago White Sox left-hander Mark Buehrle, St. Louis right-hander Edwin Jackson, Yankees right-hander Freddy Garcia, Phillies outfielder Raul Ibanez, Cubs first baseman Carlos Pena, Cubs third baseman Aramis Ramirez and Red Sox right-hander Dan Wheeler.

Three free agents agreed to contracts. Left-hander Bruce Chen stayed with Kansas City for a $9-million, two-year deal; outfielder Grady Sizemore remained with Cleveland for a $5-million, one-year contract; and catcher Ryan Doumit left Pittsburgh for a $3-million, one-year agreement with Minnesota.

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Another journeyman starter could be on his way to the Bronx as spring training nears.

Rather than returning to the Chicago White Sox, Freddy Garcia reportedly wishes to play for the New York Yankees this upcoming season.

“My preference is to be with the New York Yankees, and it’s not unreasonable to have that in mind, because I’ve demonstrated that I can be useful,” Garcia said, according to the Venezuelan paper, Meridiano.

“A team like New York would be ideal for my age, [as would ] playing in a successful, media-heavy, demanding division. Without doubt it would be an inspiration.”

The Yankees are definitely in need of starting pitching, especially a number five starter, and Garcia could certainly serve in that role.

Last year, Garcia had a 12-6 record with a 4.64 ERA and 157.0 innings pitched in his first full, healthy season since 2006.

However, he has not been impressive since his 2001 season, in which he had an 18-6 record with a 3.05 ERA for the Seattle Mariners.

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Freddy Garcia(notes), 34, has struck out 1,390 batters since entering the league in 1999. Since then, he’s played for four teams, including two stints with the Chicago White Sox.

ESPN reports that he may be getting a third go-round with the Sox. The team has interest in bringing back the man who went 12-6 with a 4.64 ERA for it last year. The site notes that the New York Yankees and Baltimore Orioles reportedly had interest in Garcia as well.

Garcia told Venezuelan Spanish-language newspaper Meridiano, “My preference is to be with the New York Yankees, and it’s not unreasonable to have that in mind, because I’ve demonstrated that I can be useful,” according to a translation by MLBTradeRumors.com. “A team like New York would be ideal for my age, [as would] playing in a successful, media-heavy, demanding division. Without doubt it would be an inspiration.”

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Source: ESPNMeridiano

Related: Baltimore Orioles, Chicago White Sox, New York Yankees

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CHiCAGO (CBS) – The White Sox are considering bringing Freddy Garcia back for the 2011 season, according to a published report.

In a tweet, John Heyman of SI.com reported that the Sox are thinking of bringing Garcia back. The team had expressed interest in keeping Garcia as far back as the end of last season, but his name was later linked to virtually every team with pitching needs, according to MLB Fanhouse.

If Garcia does come back, the team will have one starter too many once Jake Peavy returns. But that will not be until June at the earliest, MLB Fanhouse reported.

Garcia was the starting pitcher for Game 4 of the 2005 World Series, in which the White Sox won the title. He was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies in December 2006, but was later placed on the disabled list for a shoulder injury.

After stints with the Detroit Tigers and New York Mets, Garcia returned to the White Sox in minor league contract, and started for the first time in three years for the Sox on Aug. 18, 2009. The Sox exercised their 2010 option on Garcia to keep him for another season afterward.

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