Benson fit to be signed

Pitcher Kris Benson and the New York Mets completed more than three months of negotiations, agreeing yesterday to a $22.5 million, three-year contract.

Benson's deal includes a $2.5 million signing bonus and a $7.5 million club option for 2008 with a $500,000 buyout.

The deal is subject to Benson completing a physical, which is scheduled for New York tomorrow. New York wouldn't confirm the agreement, only that it asked Benson to have a physical. Contract details were provided by a person with knowledge of the negotiations who spoke on the condition of anonymity. Benson, a 30-year-old righthander, was scheduled to be in New York Tuesday for a charity event. He was acquired by New York from Pittsburgh July 30. Benson went 4-4 with a 4.50 ERA in 11 starts with the Mets.Another Rusch job Glendon Rusch agreed to a two-year, $4 million contract with the Chicago Cubs after becoming a key spot starter last season following a 1-12 season with Milwaukee in 2003.

Rusch will go to spring training as a potential fifth starter. There is a player option for 2006 and the value of the contract could increase to $6.4 million over the two years based on incentives.

Rusch was a pivotal starter and reliever for the Cubs last season. He went 6-2 with a career-low 3.47 ERA in 32 appearances, 16 from the bullpen and 16 as a fill-in starter.

Welcome back The Cleveland Indians picked up a club option on lefthander Scott Sauerbeck, who did not pitch last season because of shoulder surgery. Sauerbeck has gone 19-16 with five saves and a 3.71 ERA in 367 relief appearances with Pittsburgh and the Red Sox . . . The Red Sox added seven players to their 40-man roster, including top prospect Hanley Ramirez. Catcher Kelly Shoppach, lefthander Juan Cedeno, and righthanders Manny Delcarmen, Luis Mendoza, Anibal Sanchez, and Chris Smith also had their contracts purchased by the Red Sox.