Red Sox look at life after losing Damon; Bernie still a Yankee

GIANTS ACQUIRE FINLEY: The San Francisco Giants acquired outfielder Steve Finley from the Los Angeles Angels for third baseman Edgardo Alfonzo on Wednesday in a swap of former All-Stars who dropped off dramatically last season. The 40-year-old Finley batted a career-worst .222 with 12 home runs and 54 RBIs in 112 games for the Angels, who won the AL West for the second straight year.

CARTER SIGNS WITH DEVIL RAYS: Relief pitcher Lance Carter on Wednesday agreed to a $550,000, one-year contract to remain with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. The right-hander was 1-2 with one save and a 4.89 ERA in 39 appearances last season. In parts of five major league seasons with Tampa Bay and Kansas City, he is 13-11 with 29 saves and a 3.94 ERA. Carter was an All-Star in 2003, when he saved 26 games. His deal includes incentives of $25,000 each for appearing in 40, 50 and 60 games.

ORIOLES, CONINE SIGN PACT: Jeff Conine is headed back to Baltimore. The Orioles and Conine agreed on a one-year, $1.7 million contract that allows him to earn another $650,000 in performance bonuses next year based on plate appearances and games. Details of Conine's agreement, which also includes a team option for 2007, were disclosed by a person familiar with the negotiations who spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal had not been announced yet. His decision to sign with Baltimore was first reported by The Sun on its Web site.

QUINTERO HAS WRIST SURGERY: Houston Astros catcher Humberto Quintero had surgery Wednesday on his left wrist to remove a fractured hook of the hamate bone. The procedure was performed by team physician Dr. Tom Mehlhoff, and the 26-year-old Quintero is expected to recover in time for spring training.

CARDINALS INK PONSON: Pitcher Sidney Ponson agreed to a one-year contract with the St. Louis Cardinals, three months after the Baltimore Orioles voided the pitcher's contract and released him. Ponson's agreement with the Cardinals calls for a $1 million base salary and allows him to earn an additional $1.5 million in performance bonuses, a baseball official said Wednesday, speaking on condition of anonymity because St. Louis had not announced the deal.

ESCOBAR, TUCKER GET MINOR LEAGUE DEALS: A day after allowing outfielder Alex Escobar and right-handed pitcher T.J. Tucker to become free agents, the Washington Nationals agreed Wednesday to minor league contracts with the pair.