Rays add Burrell's bat to their lineup

Pat Burrell went from one World Series team to the other.

The Rays added a big bat to the middle of their lineup, agreeing yesterday on a $16 million, two-year contract with Burrell.

The 32-year-old spent the past nine seasons with the Phillies, who defeated the Rays in the World Series last season.

"At the end of last year, obviously I got a chance to know the team pretty well," said Burrell, who hit .250 with 33 homers, 33 doubles, 86 RBIs, and 102 walks in a career-high 157 games in 2008.

"Coming into free agency, the thing that was most important to me was to go somewhere I thought had as good a chance or better to repeat and go back to the World Series, or at least get into the playoffs."

Burrell is a .257 career hitter with 251 homers and 827 RBIs.

The Cubs and free agent Milton Bradley reached preliminary agreement on a $30 million, three-year contract, according to a person familiar with the negotiations.

The pact is subject to a physical scheduled for today.

The Cubs got swept out of the playoffs for the second straight year after a lineup loaded with righthanded hitters struggled against the Dodgers.

A switch hitter, Bradley batted .321 with 22 homers for Texas in 2008 while leading the American League with a .436 on-base percentage.

ESPN reported that Phillies pitcher J.C. Romero will be suspended for the first 50 games next season because of issues surrounding his purchase of a supplement from a GNC store in July. The Players Association at the time said the supplement was acceptable, but now MLB is saying the 33-year-old reliever tested positive and is guilty of "negligence" . . . Manager Mike Scioscia and the Angels have agreed in principle on a multiyear contract extension. Scioscia's current deal runs through 2009, with a club option for 2010, for about $2 million per season. General manager Tony Reagins said the extension "goes well beyond" 2010. The Angels are 803-655 in nine seasons under Scioscia.

The Dodgers have agreed to trade or release Andruw Jones, 30, in exchange for the center fielder deferring much of the $22 million remaining on his contract, according to a person with knowledge of the discussions . . . Still looking for a closer, the Cardinals say they might consider turning to oft-injured ace Chris Carpenter next season, although Carpenter made only four appearances last season following reconstructive elbow surgery and underwent another procedure in November to transpose an elbow nerve . . . The New York Times reported that lefthander Andy Pettitte has rejected the Yankees' one-year, $10 million offer, but while there is no standing offer now, some in the team's hierarchy still want him back . . . Former Brewers closer Derrick Turnbow, 30, agreed to a minor league contract with the Rangers . . . Carl Pohlad, a billionaire banker whose Twins won two World Series titles during nearly his nearly quarter-century as owner, died yesterday at age 93. Obituary, Page B14.