AP: Red Sox agree to deal with Drew

The Boston Red Sox moved forward with their strategy of giving free agents short-term contracts by reaching a $9.5 million, one-year agreement with shortstop Stephen Drew.

A person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press on Tuesday that Drew will take a physical before the deal can be finalized. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the agreement was not complete.

Boston also finalized a $4.25 million, one-year contract with 37-year-old reliever Koji Uehara, a deal agreed to two weeks ago atr the winter meetings.

Drew hit .250 with five homers and 16 RBIs in 39 games for the Oakland Athletics last season after being traded by Arizona on Aug. 20. In 40 games with the Diamondbacks, he hit .193 with two homers and 12 RBIs. Drew, 29, is the brother of former Boston outfielder J.D. Drew and had been with Arizona for his entire big career until the trade.

In seven seasons, Drew is hitting .265 with 77 homers and 349 RBIs. In addition to his salary, he would earn a $500,000 bonus if he has 500 plate appearances.

With several top prospects needing more seasoning, the Red Sox are adding players who can help until, and perhaps after, those youngsters are ready.

So far this offseason, they've agreed to $39 million, three-year contracts with outfielder Shane Victorino and first baseman-catcher Mike Napoli; a $26.5 million, two-year deal with right-hander Ryan Dempster; a $10 million, two-year contract with outfielder Johnny Gomes and a $6.2 million, two-year deal with catcher David Ross.

Napoli's deal hasn't been finalized yet while the Red Sox address their concerns about his health.

Yanks' luxury tax up to $19.3 million

The New York Yankees' luxury tax bill for this year has gone up by nearly $400,000.

Major League Baseball sent a revised accounting to the team Tuesday, raising New York's payment to $19,311,642 from $18,917,994. The change reflected how one player's salary was accounted for.

New York is the only team to pay the luxury tax this year. The Yankees' final payroll for luxury tax purposes climbed from $222.5 million to $223.4 million.

The Yankees pay at a 42.5 percent rate on the amount over the $178 million threshold. The luxury tax uses average annual values of contracts and includes benefits.

A's agree on contract with Nakajima

The Oakland Athletics have agreed to terms of a two-year contract with shortstop Hiroyuki Nakajima of Japan's Seibu Lions.

The deal announced Tuesday runs through the 2014 season and includes a club option for 2015.

Nakajima, a seven-time Pacific League All-Star, has a .302 batting average with 149 home runs, 664 RBIs and 134 stolen bases over 11 seasons with Seibu.

He would fill a big void for Oakland, which traded away shortstop and second baseman Cliff Pennington to Arizona in an Oct. 21 trade that brought outfielder Chris Young to the A's.

Twins agree to 1-year deal with Pelfrey

The Minnesota Twins have agreed with right-hander Mike Pelfrey on a $4 million, one-year contract.

Pelfrey was an innings eater during a four-year run with the New York Mets before missing almost all of last season after Tommy John surgery. He went 50-54 with a 4.36 ERA in seven seasons in New York.

Astros agree to deal with Carlos Pena

The Houston Astros wanted to add power to their lineup and a veteran presence to their young team.

They think they got both by agreeing to a $2.9 million, one-year contract with Carlos Pena.

Pena will be the Astros' designated hitter, addressing a key need as they prepare for their first season in the American League. The 34-year-old Pena, who spent last season in his second stint with Tampa Bay, hit .197 with 19 home runs and 61 RBIs in 2012, when he made $7.5 million.