Baseball Notes: Fielder is glad to be a Tiger

DETROIT - Power-hitting first baseman Prince Fielder, who said it was "a dream come true," was introduced Thursday by the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park after finalizing a $214 million, nine-year contract, the fourth-largest deal in baseball history.

"I just never thought this could happen," said the son of former Tigers slugger Cecil Fielder.

Fielder recalled hanging around Tiger Stadium when his father played for Detroit.

"For me, it was always Sparky saying I was going to pinch-hit - and I really believed him," Fielder said, referring to former managerSparky Anderson. "I'm just glad I get to come back."

With Detroit desperate to win its first World Series title since 1984, the big first baseman will combine with Miguel Cabrera to give the Tigers perhaps the most formidable Nos. 3-4 hitters in the major leagues. But with Cabrera shifting to third, it also will give Detroit a potentially troublesome defense at the infield corners.

Leyland said Brandon Inge, who is being displaced because Fielder's arrival caused Cabrera's move to third, "isn't the happiest camper." Leyland also said he thought Cabrera was capable of handling defensive duties at third.

Fielder will earn $23 million in each of his first two years with Detroit, then will make $24 million annually in the final seven seasons of his contract, according to terms obtained by the Associated Press.

Yankees sign two. The New York Yankees settled their final salary arbitration case, agreeing with lefthander Boone Logan on a one-year contract worth $1,875,000.

Logan was 5-3 with a 3.46 ERA in 64 games last year and earned $1.2 million.

New York also finalized their $10 million, one-year contract with free-agent righthander Hiroki Kuroda.

The 36-year-old Kuroda was 13-16 with a 3.07 ERA for the Dodgers last year.

A's add Gomes. The Oakland Athletics and outfielder Jonny Gomes agreed to a one-year contract. The 31-year-old Gomes batted .209 with 14 home runs and 43 RBIs last year for Cincinnati and Washington in his ninth major league season.

Tribe tables Carmona. The Cleveland Indians made a move with the pitcher they've known for the last 11-plus years only as Fausto Carmona.

Arrested last week in the Dominican Republic on false- identity charges, Carmona was placed on baseball's restricted list by the club. The Indians had to apply to the commissioner's office in order to have Carmona placed on the list because of his unusual legal entanglement. Players on the restricted list do not count against a team's 25- or 40-man roster and will not be paid until they report.

Carmona was arrested outside the U.S. consulate in Santo Domingo last week and charged with falsifying his name and birthdate. Authorities in his homeland revealed his real name is Roberto Hernandez Heredia and that he's 31 - three years older than the Indians believed.