(AP) -- Nelson Cruz seems to be a perfect fit for the Texas Rangers with his potent bat and big personality.

With hopes of staying together even longer, AL championship series MVP Cruz and two-time defending AL champion Texas avoided arbitration by agreeing Thursday to a $16 million, two-year contract.

"Nelson is a cornerstone of our team for what really marks the whole turnaround of the franchise. He been part of the winning core, he's a huge part of that," assistant general manager Thad Levine said. "He's been big-time performer in the postseason. He's part of the personality of this team, he plays the game with a ton of energy, a very dynamic player, true five-tool athlete."

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FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) Former Red Sox pitcher Dennis "Oil Can" Boyd says he probably pitched under the influence of cocaine "at every ballpark" during his 10-year career.

"There wasn't one ballpark that I probably didn't stay up all night, until 4 or 5 in the morning, and the same thing is in your system," Boyd said in an interview with Jon Miller of WBZ radio in Boston. "It ain't like you had time to go and do it while you were in the game, which I have (done) that." Read More...

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) Alex Gordon doesn't know where negotiations stand on a long-term contract. He doesn't even know how much he deserves to make after a breakout season with the Kansas City Royals.

All he knows is that he's under contract for next season, and spring training is almost here. Read More...

SEATTLE (AP) Right around the first of the year, Eric Wedge placed a call to a select number of Seattle Mariners telling them to get to the Pacific Northwest in the dead of winter.

Wedge wanted to see firsthand if this group had followed through during the offseason in getting themselves ready for the upcoming season in the way Wedge and his staff asked. Read More...

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) The Baltimore Orioles have defeated Brad Bergesen in salary arbitration, giving clubs a 3-2 lead over players this year.

Bergesen will receive an $800,000 salary this year rather than his request for $1.2 million. Arbitrators Robert Herzog, Mark Burstein and Elizabeth Neumeier made their decision Thursday, a day after hearing arguments. Read More...

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) The San Francisco Giants have finalized a $1 million, one-year contract with free agent reliever Guillermo Mota to bring him back for a third season.

The sides had agreed to terms in December. Mota has been added to the 40-man roster. Mota, a 38-year-old right-hander, has become a reliable option for manager Bruce Bochy. He went 2-2 with a 3.81 ERA in 52 outings last season for the NL West runners-up. Read More...

PHOENIX (AP) Left-handed reliever Craig Breslow and the Arizona Diamondbacks agreed to a one-year contract worth $1,795,000, a deal that avoided salary arbitration.

The agreement Thursday was $5,000 below the midpoint between the $2.1 million he had asked for last month and the $1.5 million Arizona had offered. Read More...

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) Phil Garner says he has agreed to stay on with the Oakland Athletics in a part-time special adviser role.

Garner, who had contemplated retirement, will be with the team throughout spring training in Phoenix. His role will then be further determined. Read More...

NEW YORK (AP) Book `em, Shane-O.

Philadelphia Phillies center fielder Shane Victorino, nicknamed the "Flyin' Hawaiian," will be a guest star on Monday's episode of "Hawaii Five-0." Read More...

CINCINNATI (AP) The Reds have made a couple moves to improve their depth, finalizing a $2.5 million, one-year contract with outfielder Ryan Ludwick and a minor league deal with left-handed starter Jeff Francis.

The 33-year-old Ludwick gets $2 million this year, and Wednesday's deal includes a $5 million mutual option for 2013 with a $500,000 buyout. He can earn $500,000 in performance bonuses based on plate appearances: $50,000 each for 250, 300 and 350, $100,000 apiece for 400 and 450, and $150,000 for 500. Read More...