01:00 AM EST on Thursday, December 8, 2005

All-Star second baseman Alfonso Soriano was traded by the Texas Rangers to the Washington Nationals last night for Brad Wilkerson, Terrmel Sledge and a minor-league pitcher.

The deal was pending physicals, according to a baseball official who spoke on condition of anonymity because the swap had not been finalized.

With a rare combination of power and speed, Soriano has been one of the most productive infielders in the majors the last four years. He hit .268 with 36 homers, 104 RBI and 30 stolen bases last season, when he earned $7.5 million.

Eligible for arbitration, he almost certainly will get a substantial raise next year, and he can become a free agent after the 2006 season. He is a .283 career hitter with 162 home runs.

Wilkerson, a first-round draft pick (33rd overall) by Montreal in 1998, hit .248 with 11 homers and 57 RBI in 148 games last season for the Nationals. He can play all three outfield positions, and will be a likely starter at one of the corner spots for Texas.

Sledge, also an outfielder, was limited to 20 games last season after right hamstring surgery. He hit .243 with one home run.

Right-hander Armando Galarraga went a combined 6-8 with a 3.80 E.R.A. in 27 starts at Class-A Potomac and Double-A Harrisburg.

ROUNDUP PADRES KEEP HOFFMAN: Trevor Hoffman will stay with the San Diego Padres, agreeing yesterday to a $13.5-million, two-year contract that includes an option for 2008. Hoffman's agents also had been negotiating with the Cleveland Indians at the winter meetings before agreeing to stay with the Padres. Hoffman saved 43 games last season, going 1-6 with a 2.97 E.R.A. He is second on the career saves list with 436 -- all except two with the Padres.

MARLINS DEAL PIERRE: The Florida Marlins likely finished their salary purge yesterday, sending center fielder Juan Pierre to the Chicago Cubs for right-hander Sergio Mitre and Double-A pitchers Ricky Nolasco and Renyel Pinto. Pierre is eligible for salary arbitration and expected to make $5 million to $6 million in 2006. The 28-year-old Pierre batted .276, with 181 hits, 96 runs and 57 stolen bases, last season.

ROYALS-PIRATES DEAL: Eager to get a starting pitcher who can get them deep into games, the Kansas City Royals swung a trade yesterday for Mark Redman -- the second left-handed starter dealt by the Pittsburgh Pirates in as many days. The Pirates, looking to trim some payroll after picking up first baseman Sean Casey and his $8.5-million salary from the Cincinnati Reds yesterday, get pitcher Jonah Bayliss and a player to be named from the Royals. Bayliss, a 25-year-old right-hander, is expected to fill one of the right-handed relievers' jobs left open in the Pirates' bullpen after they chose to not bring back former closer Jose Mesa, Brian Meadows and Rick White from a 95-loss team. Bayliss made 11 relief appearances with the Royals as a rookie this year, going 0-0 with a 4.63 E.R.A. He pitched recently in the Arizona Fall League and had a 3-0 record and 4.98 E.R.A. in 11 appearances with the Surprise Scorpions.

BRAVES TRADE ESTRADA: The Atlanta Braves traded former All-Star catcher Johnny Estrada to the Arizona Diamondbacks yesterday for right-handed relievers Lance Cormier and Oscar Villarreal. The 29-year-old Estrada, acquired in December 2002 from Philadelphia for pitcher Kevin Millwood, hit .261 last season with four home runs and 39 RBI. He made the N.L. All-Star team in 2004, when he batted .314 with nine homers and 76 RBI.

BURROUGHS ON MOVE: Third baseman Sean Burroughs was traded from the San Diego Padres to the Tampa Bay Devil Rays yesterday for right-hander Dewon Brazelton. The 25-year-old Burroughs, the son of 1974 A.L. MVP Jeff Burroughs, has a .282 career average in four major-league seasons but slumped badly this year. He was sent to the minor leagues in July to work on his swing; he came back 5 1/2 weeks later and finished with a .250 average, one homer and 17 RBI. The ninth selection in the 1998 draft, Burroughs batted .298 with two homers and 47 RBI in 2004. Brazelton, 25, was 1-8 with a 7.61 E.R.A. in eight starts and 12 relief appearances.

FURCAL FINALIZES PACT: Now the Los Angeles Dodgers have a healthy speedster at shortstop to go along with their new manager and GM. Rafael Furcal finalized a $39-million, three-year contract with the Dodgers yesterday, leaving the Atlanta Braves and filling two important needs for Los Angeles: a proven leadoff hitter and a replacement for injured All-Star Cesar Izturis.

KOLB SENT TO BREWERS: After flopping as Atlanta's closer and losing his job less than two months into the season, Dan Kolb was traded by the Braves back to the Milwaukee Brewers yesterday for right-hander Wes Obermueller. Kolb, a 30-year-old right-hander, was 3-8 with a 5.93 E.R.A. last season, his first with the Braves. Atlanta acquired him from the Brewers at last year's winter meetings. He was an All-Star for the Brewers in 2004, when he had 39 saves, and the Braves acquired him to move John Smoltz back into the starting rotation. But by mid-May, he had four losses and three blown saves, allowing 18 hits and 16 walks -- one more than his 2004 total -- in 16 2/3 innings.

BREWERS SEND OVERBAY TO TORONTO : The Blue Jays turned their attention to offense late last night by acquiring first baseman Lyle Overbay from the Brewers for right-hander Dave Bush, pitching prospect Zach Jackson and a player to be named. The Blue Jays, who are expanding their payroll from $45 million to $75 million this season, have been one of the most active teams at the winter meetings. Overbay, a left-handed hitter who is eligible for arbitration, batted .276 with 19 homers and 72 RBI last year. His departure clears the way for top prospect Prince Fielder to take over at first base in Milwaukee. Bush was 5-11 with a 4.49 ERA in 25 games (24 starts) for Toronto this year. Jackson, a left-hander, was the 32nd pick overall out of Texas A&M in the 2004 draft. He moved through three levels of the minors and had a combined 16-8 record with a 3.92 ERA.

SAENZ, DODGERS AGREE: Infielder Olmedo Saenz agreed yesterday to a $2-million, two-year contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers. The 35-year-old set career highs last season for games (109), at-bats (319), hits (84), doubles (24), home runs (15), RBI (63) and walks (27). He was second on the Dodgers in RBI and tied for second in home runs.

SEATTLE KEEPS MOYER: Jamie Moyer is staying with the Seattle Mariners, agreeing to a $5.5-million, one-year contract. The left-hander, who turned 43 last month, went 13-7 with a 4.28 E.R.A. last season, his 10th in Seattle. He pitched 200 innings and earned $8 million. Moyer is 205-152 in his 18-year career, which began in 1986 with the Chicago Cubs.

TRIBE, WICKMAN AGREE: Closer Bob Wickman agreed to a $5-million, one-year contract with the Cleveland Indians last night. By giving Wickman a new deal, the Indians avoided going to salary arbitration with the 36-year-old All-Star, who tied for the A.L. lead with a career-high 45 saves this year.